Decisions to Open a Relationship

James K. Beggan is professor of sociology at the University of Louisville.

• Contents Introduction Chapter 1. The Decision to Open a Relationship Chapter 2. Consensual Nonmonogamy Chapter 3. Moral Reasoning Chapter 4. Polynomics: Decision-Making about Polyamory Chapter 5. How Do We Make Decisions? Chapter 6. Risk Tolerance and Affective Forecasting Chapter 7. The Centrality of Relationships Chapter 8. Relationship Variables and Consensual Nonmonogamy Chapter 9. The Monogamy Myth and Infidelity Chapter 10. Triad Dynamics Conclusion References About the Author

“Most studies of nonmonogamous relationships focus on their composition and consequences. But how do people decide to abandon monogamy in the first place? What difficulties do people face in doing so? How might they make better choices? In this rich book, James K. Beggan answers these questions by blending his grasp of the empirical literature on triadic relationships with a helpful decision-theoretic framework. The reader leaves with a nuanced sense of the different motivations, reasoning, and moral concerns surrounding these potentially transformative decisions. If you study human intimacy, read this book.”