The idea that monogamy is ‘the only way’ has long been ingrained in Western culture.
在西方文化中,一夫一妻制是“唯一的方法”这个观念早已根深蒂固。
While scientists have questioned whether this way of life truly is better than non-monogamy, they’ve yet to reach a consensus – and, new research argues that this is because even scientists have upheld an ‘invisible’ bias on the subject.
In the study, researchers reviewed of several earlier works and surveyed more than 2,000 people, and found that non-monogamous relationships are just as ‘functional’ as traditional ones.
Of the group surveyed in the new study from the University of Michigan, 617 participants were in consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationships, according to Quartz.
据Quartz表示称,在被密歇根大学这项研究所调查的人当中,617人具有自愿的非一夫一妻制关系。
The researchers measured for trust, jealousy, passion, and overall satisfaction, and found that there were no differences in how the relationships function.
研究人员们衡量了信任、嫉妒、激情和总体满意度等指标,发现非一夫一妻制在功能上和一夫一妻制没有区别。
Still, non-monogamy remains somewhat taboo, and the researchers say the cultural dominance of more traditional relationships could be effecting the way intimacy is studied.
In earlier studies, the researchers suspect scientists may have unconsciously skewed their results by using non-neutral rhetoric, among other influencers.
Such terms are directive, the researchers argue, and can sway the outcome of the study by making it more likely for monogamy to receive higher ‘scores.’
研究人员认为这些词汇具有导向意义,可能会倾斜研究的结果,使得一夫一妻制更能得到“高分”。
‘The fact that we can allow our discussion to be so emotionally led probably doesn’t allow us to really think in a logical manner,’ lead author Terri Conley told Quartz.
In a smaller study with 100 participants from Mechanical Turk, the researchers from the University of Michigan also investigated the ways people react to researchers when asked about non-monogamous relationships.
And, they found that the researchers were seen to be more biased when asking questions about polyamory, according to Quartz.
而据Quartz表示称,他们发现当研究人员问到关于多配偶制的问题时存在更多的偏见。
As scientists work to understand the complexity of human relationships, the researchers say the studies themselves are being hindered by these ‘invisible’ biases.
当科学家们致力于理解人类关系复杂性的时候,研究者们则表示说这些研究本身就被“看不见的”偏见阻碍了。
In the study, they argue that ‘the premise that monogamy is superior to other types of non-monogamous relational arrangements continues to permeate the ways in which researchers construct and test theories of love and intimacy.’