Adults’ Identities, Attitudes, and Orientations Concerning Consensual Non-Monogamy

This study considered the connection among aspects of emerging adults’ identities and their relational and sociosexual orientations as well as their attitudes toward consensual non-monogamy (CNM). Results indicate significant relationships among individuals’ collective and social identity aspects, as dictated in the AIQ-IV, and how emerging adults label their relational orientations (e.g., strictly monogamous, monogamish, open, and polyamorous). Additionally, findings demonstrate that the salience/importance of social categories, roles, and reputations in one’s identity is associated with how individuals choose to label their relational orientation, their attitudes toward non-monogamy, and their orientation toward uncommitted sex (sociosexual orientation). Discussion, implications, and future directions follow.