While polyamory and open relationships may sound similar, there is a distinct difference between the two in today’s relationships. Both structures consist of consensually non-monogamous relations, yet how lovers deal with intimate connections differs. As such, it is important for anyone interested in or looking into these sorts of relationships to understand those differences. Below are the main differences between polyamory and open relationships.
What is Polyamory?
Polyamorous relationships are the voluntary behavior or belief that an individual can be in love with, romantically involved with, or with more than one other person at a time. It is not personal attraction or sexual relations by any means, but love — love that is love in every aspect and degree. Polyamory is more or less an organized form of open relationship where the partners share and discuss many aspects of their lives honestly.
What is an Open Relationship?
An open relationship, on the other hand, is a relationship that a couple has where they have officially decided to take part in sexual activities outside the relationship but are still together. People in an open relationship can or cannot have emotional connections again; open relationships are primarily centered on the sexual liberation of a person from the main relationship. Usually, they communicate ground rules with their partners.
Key Differences: Emotional Connections vs. Sexual Freedom
The only distinction between the two seems to be the sort of connections that they both permit. Polyamorous people often have more than one intimate and/or emotional partner at the same time, with some defined parameters for each relationship. Such relations may involve strategic, constant, and consensual interactions between individuals and/or entities. Communication is crucial for these types of relationships.
Unlike open relationships, most of the time, the open relationship is justified based on freedom of sexual expression without necessarily having to bond with other people emotionally. But there arises a premarital profiling of intimacy where sexual exploration with other partners is allowed; the emotional attachment is with the partner. Thus, one of the members can feel sure in the emotional aspect connected with the primary partner but at the same time have numerous sexual contacts.
Relationship Structure and Boundaries
Polyamorous relationships are not identical to open relationships, but they can be more complicated. People who have, for example, two or more ongoing relationships can have a primary partner with whom they live with who has similar responsibilities for the children. Each of these is usually a differently tuned relationship and tends to have a specific set of etiquette. With polyamorous relationships, you’re dating multiple people at once.
On the other hand, an open relationship is characterized by less complex structures. The couple is usually the basic unit, and coital relations are, in most cases, mutual between the couple. These interactions may or may not entail further involvement, and so the boundaries are most commonly drawn regarding sexual interaction. You must discuss specific boundaries with your partner about these types of relationships.
Communication is Key
People in polyamorous and open relationships must remind themselves that communication is essential. For both open and polyamorous relationships, it is crucial to communicate different feelings of jealousy, safety, and the nature of relations. Individuals with these types of partnerships usually have meetings with their partners to ensure everyone’s needs are well understood. Regular check-ins are very important in any relationship.
Jealousy and Emotional Complexity
Jealousy has a different color of manifestation in polyamorous and open relationships due to the different measures of emotional investment. Jealous reactions occur when one of the partners becomes close to the other, even in polyamorous relationships, because romantic involvement is an ingredient in jealousy. Still, it should be noted that jealousy can be very characteristic of polyamory. However, most people who practice polyamory do what they can to avoid it, using communication to minimize its effects.
Jealousy in open relationships might be due to the sexual part of the relationship contract. Some signs may cause insecurities, for example, when one partner thinks the other partner is getting emotionally or physically intimate with another person. As has been mentioned, open relationships are usually based more on sexual contact. Because of this, the experience of emotional jealousy can be less actualized.
Final Thoughts
Open as well as polyamorous relationships are non-monogamous arrangements that can be suitable for different people but for different reasons. It is crucial to know what distinguishes certain types of relationship structures and set personal boundaries and expectations. If you enter a polyamory or an open relationship, the major principle remains open and honest communication with partners who respect each other.
