Potential physiological correlates of prejudice against consensual non-monogamy

Abstract

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is a relationship style that is often a target of stigma and prejudice. The present study sought to determine whether anti-CNM prejudice is associated with the same patterns of physiological and emotional responding that have been recorded in other forms of sexual prejudice. Study 1 was a pilot study of 39 participants to determine whether a first person or third person vignette would evoke stronger reactions in participants. Participants listened to a series of audio vignettes describing monogamous, non-monogamous, and neutral relationships while their electrodermal activity (EDA), heart rate (HR), and emotional affective states were measured. Another vignette that asked participants to imagine being asked to engage in CNM by a partner was also included. There were no differences by vignette type, but the most distinctive response was to the Imagine vignette. Study 2 involved participants first completing an online survey of their attitudes towards CNM, their level of disgust sensitivity, narcissism, and religiosity. From those who completed the survey, a subset of 16 participants with came into the lab for the same protocol as Study 1. There were no differences in the physiological results across the relationship vignettes, but the Imagine vignette resulted in significantly lower mean EDA and significantly higher HR and negative affect. Unexpectedly, positive attitudes towards CNM were found to be positively correlated with EDA and heart rate during different vignettes. No correlations between physiological responding, individual levels of religiosity, and narcissistic personality traits were observed. The implications of these results for existing accounts of sexual prejudice and anti-CNM attitudes are discussed.