Polyphobia

Polyphobia refers to demeaning attitudes, prejudice, exclusion, or discrimination directed at polyamorous people and polyamorous relationship structures. It can appear as ridicule, moral judgment, social rejection, disadvantages in family or work settings, pathologization, threats, and psychological or physical violence. People may also be affected if they are not polyamorous themselves but are perceived as such.

Polyphobia is often based on the assumption that only monogamous relationships are “normal,” responsible, or morally valid. Polyamory, however, is not the same as cheating: in healthy polyamorous relationships, all people involved ideally act with knowledge, consent, honesty, and clear communication. Criticizing specific harmful behavior is different from broadly devaluing polyamorous people or relationship models.

Internalized polyphobia describes a situation in which a person affected by polyphobic messages adopts those messages and turns them against their own identity, relationship style, or needs. This can increase shame, self-devaluation, secrecy, or fear of rejection, especially in an unsupportive environment or before an internal or external coming-out. Supportive conversations, community, counseling, or therapy can help identify and reduce such internalized prejudice.