Research on consensual non-monogamy (CNM) has largely been restricted to comparisons between monogamous and CNM people, with researchers paying little attention to various CNM styles. The current research elucidated differences among three styles of CNM: open relationships, polyamory, and swinging. Across three studies, we demonstrated that people in polyamorous or swinger-style relationships have higher levels of relationship satisfaction and other relational outcomes (e.g., passionate love, trust) than those in open relationships. That is, people in open relationships consistently fared more poorly in their relational outcomes than those in other types of CNM relationships. In Studies 4 and 5, we isolated some of the reasons for these differences. We found that differences in relational outcomes between open-style and other styles of CNM dissipated when controlling for (a) couples’ approach to communication, (b) extrinsic versus intrinsic motivations for participating in CNM, (c) adherence to pro-monogamy beliefs and (d) degree of contact with one’s partner’s partners (“metamours”). Thus, CNM-specific relational dynamics are associated with dyadic adjustment in these relationships.

对两厢情愿的非一夫一妻制 (CNM) 的研究很大程度上仅限于一夫一妻制和 CNM 人之间的比较，研究人员很少关注各种 CNM 风格。目前的研究阐明了三种 CNM 风格之间的差异：开放式关系、多元之爱和摇摆不定。在三项研究中，我们证明处于多角恋或浪荡公子式关系中的人比处于开放式关系中的人具有更高水平的关系满意度和其他关系结果（例如，热情的爱、信任）。也就是说，与其他类型的 CNM 关系中的人相比，处于开放关系中的人在关系结果方面的表现始终更差。在研究 4 和 5 中，我们分离了这些差异的一些原因。我们发现，当控制 (a) 夫妻的沟通方式，(b) 参与 CNM 的外在动机与内在动机，(c) 坚持支持一夫一妻制的信念时，开放式和其他 CNM 风格之间的关系结果差异消散(d) 与伴侣的伴侣的接触程度（“metamours”）。因此，特定于 CNM 的关系动态与这些关系中的二元调整相关联。