The Intersection of Consensual Non-Monogamy, Black Identity, and Power Dynamics: A Review and Proposal for Therapeutic Models
Bibliographic record
Abstract
Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) and polyamory are types of relationship structures that differ in many ways from monogamy. CNM is becoming more prevalent (Moors, 2023; Scoats & Campbell, 2022). In the United States and Canada, 1 in 5 people have engaged in some form of CNM (Moors, 2023). As more individuals engage in CNM relationships and potentially seek out couples therapy, therapists will be tasked with assisting individuals navigating relationship distress occurring within these unique relationship structures. There is limited research, or empirically validated, treatment models for working with couples with intersecting identities. To date, there has yet to be an empirically supported relationship therapy model for working with CNM or polyamorous relationships. Nor is there a method of couples therapy for Black couples. The social and contextual implications of American history on the lived experiences of Black individuals necessitates awareness of the impact systemic racism and oppression have on relationship distress (Corbitt, 2023; Guillory, 2021). In the United States, as the third largest racial group, Black individuals are more than 12% of the population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). However, there is a disparity in the research conducted with Black couples and Black individuals that practice polyamory. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a model of couples therapy with foundations in systems and attachment theory. EFT empirically supports couples therapy with heterosexual white couples (Johnson et al., 1999; Johnson, 2004; Cooper, 2023). Nonetheless, EFT incorporates experiential interventions that provide space for intersectionality and diversity of relationship structures. With that being said, this paper will discuss the intricacies of CNM, Black polyamory, and the impact of systemic racism on relationship distress. Then this paper will dissect polyamory and intersectionality as it pertains to Black individuals. Additionally, this paper will theorize EFT as a therapeutic model for working with Black polyamorous relationships including the clinical implications. Finally, this paper will offer future directions for research with intersectionality and CNM.
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How this classification was reachedexpand
Full frame machine prediction
Teacher imitationNot calibrated prevalence, not ground truth. Human validation pending. The Gemma side is a direct model label for every work in the frame, read from the title-only record. The Codex side is a classifier learned from the 10,348 direct Codex labels and calibrated to design-weighted sample rates; fields without enough sample support carry no Codex call. Candidate is the union of the two sides; consensus is their intersection. These outputs are machine_predicted_unvalidated and are not human labels.
Distilled classifier scores by category (both heads)
| Category | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Metaresearch | 0.007 | 0.007 |
| Meta-epidemiology (narrow) | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| Meta-epidemiology (broad) | 0.004 | 0.002 |
| Bibliometrics | 0.010 | 0.010 |
| Science and technology studies | 0.003 | 0.009 |
| Scholarly communication | 0.006 | 0.009 |
| Open science | 0.005 | 0.003 |
| Research integrity | 0.005 | 0.006 |
| Insufficient payload (model declined to judge) | 0.003 | 0.001 |
Machine scores (provisional)
The two teacher heads of the student model, read on this work. A score orders the frame for review; it never asserts a category, and the validation status ships verbatim with every row.
Baseline scores from an immature model (maturity gate not passed, 7 training rounds). Scores rank; they never assert a category.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · verbatim from the scoring run: score_only means the number may rank works, and no category label ships from itClassification
machine, unvalidatedMachine predicted; a candidate call from one source (direct Gemma or distilled Codex), not a consensus.
How this classification was reached, model by model and score by score, is at the end of the page under "How this classification was reached".