Quality of alternatives positively associated with interest in opening up a relationship

Abstract

We use the Investment Model framework to examine what relationship features are associated with interest in and positive evaluations of consensual non-monogamy (CNM) among individuals in monogamous relationships. In data sets from the United States (Study 1), Europe (Study 2), and Korea (Study 3; total N = 886), perceptions of higher-quality alternatives were consistently associated with more interest in CNM. Further, consistent with previous work on commitment-motivated relationship maintenance processes, we found support for an indirect effect whereby lower commitment was associated with higher perceived attractiveness of alternatives, which in turn was associated with more interest in CNM. The data suggest that the idea of CNM is likely to be most attractive to those who see themselves as having higher-quality relationship options.