'My partner was just all over her': jealousy, communication and rules in mixed-sex threesomes

Ryan Scoats; Eric Anderson

doi:10.1080/13691058.2018.1453088

'My partner was just all over her': jealousy, communication and rules in mixed-sex threesomes

Ryan Scoats, Eric Anderson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

114 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Drawing on findings from interviews with 28 men and women, this study explores experiences related to communication and jealousy in mixed-sex threesomes. Findings suggest that those in relationships often experience feelings of exclusion when engaging in threesomes, although open communication is a method by which the negative effects may be mitigated. Some couples agree on particular rules during their threesomes, symbolically demonstrating the specialness of the relationship as well as protecting it from further progression into non-monogamy. Although communication appeared less important for those having threesomes when not in a relationship, it still played a role in determining participants' use of contraception whether the threesome occurred while in a relationship or not. Study findings are contextualised using the concept of monogamism, with it being suggested that threesomes involving romantic couples can serve to help maintain institutional monogamy, rather than trouble it.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	134-146
Number of pages	13
Journal	Culture, Health and Sexuality
Volume	21
Issue number	2
Early online date	10 Apr 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2018.1453088
Publication status	Published - Feb 2019
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in
Culture, Health and Sexuality on 10/04/18, available
online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13691058.2018.1453088

Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

Keywords

Communication
consensual non-monogamy
jealousy
monogamy
threesome

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1080/13691058.2018.1453088

Post-PrintAccepted author manuscript, 1.16 MBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

@article{ea49f34783b6401fb8eace73aa9f87be,

title = "'My partner was just all over her': jealousy, communication and rules in mixed-sex threesomes",

abstract = "Drawing on findings from interviews with 28 men and women, this study explores experiences related to communication and jealousy in mixed-sex threesomes. Findings suggest that those in relationships often experience feelings of exclusion when engaging in threesomes, although open communication is a method by which the negative effects may be mitigated. Some couples agree on particular rules during their threesomes, symbolically demonstrating the specialness of the relationship as well as protecting it from further progression into non-monogamy. Although communication appeared less important for those having threesomes when not in a relationship, it still played a role in determining participants' use of contraception whether the threesome occurred while in a relationship or not. Study findings are contextualised using the concept of monogamism, with it being suggested that threesomes involving romantic couples can serve to help maintain institutional monogamy, rather than trouble it.",

keywords = "Communication, consensual non-monogamy, jealousy, monogamy, threesome",

author = "Ryan Scoats and Eric Anderson",

note = "This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Culture, Health and Sexuality on 10/04/18, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13691058.2018.1453088 Copyright {\textcopyright} and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. ",

year = "2019",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1080/13691058.2018.1453088",

language = "English",

volume = "21",

pages = "134--146",

journal = "Culture, Health and Sexuality",

issn = "1369-1058",

publisher = "Taylor and Francis",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - 'My partner was just all over her'

T2 - jealousy, communication and rules in mixed-sex threesomes

AU - Scoats, Ryan

AU - Anderson, Eric

N1 - This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Culture, Health and Sexuality on 10/04/18, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13691058.2018.1453088 Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

PY - 2019/2

Y1 - 2019/2

N2 - Drawing on findings from interviews with 28 men and women, this study explores experiences related to communication and jealousy in mixed-sex threesomes. Findings suggest that those in relationships often experience feelings of exclusion when engaging in threesomes, although open communication is a method by which the negative effects may be mitigated. Some couples agree on particular rules during their threesomes, symbolically demonstrating the specialness of the relationship as well as protecting it from further progression into non-monogamy. Although communication appeared less important for those having threesomes when not in a relationship, it still played a role in determining participants' use of contraception whether the threesome occurred while in a relationship or not. Study findings are contextualised using the concept of monogamism, with it being suggested that threesomes involving romantic couples can serve to help maintain institutional monogamy, rather than trouble it.

AB - Drawing on findings from interviews with 28 men and women, this study explores experiences related to communication and jealousy in mixed-sex threesomes. Findings suggest that those in relationships often experience feelings of exclusion when engaging in threesomes, although open communication is a method by which the negative effects may be mitigated. Some couples agree on particular rules during their threesomes, symbolically demonstrating the specialness of the relationship as well as protecting it from further progression into non-monogamy. Although communication appeared less important for those having threesomes when not in a relationship, it still played a role in determining participants' use of contraception whether the threesome occurred while in a relationship or not. Study findings are contextualised using the concept of monogamism, with it being suggested that threesomes involving romantic couples can serve to help maintain institutional monogamy, rather than trouble it.

KW - Communication

KW - consensual non-monogamy

KW - jealousy

KW - monogamy

KW - threesome

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045142283&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/13691058.2018.1453088

DO - 10.1080/13691058.2018.1453088

M3 - Article

C2 - 30764748

VL - 21

SP - 134

EP - 146

JO - Culture, Health and Sexuality

JF - Culture, Health and Sexuality

SN - 1369-1058

IS - 2

ER -

'My partner was just all over her': jealousy, communication and rules in mixed-sex threesomes

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this