Bisexuality is a sexual orientation where people experience attraction to both men and women. It is often seen as an unstable identity, but research shows that it can be just as fulfilling as monosexual identities like heterosexuality or homosexuality.
The current understanding of bisexuality is that it influences perceptions of relational satisfaction, fidelity, and commitment differently than other sexual orientations. Bisexuals may have more difficulty finding long-term partners who accept their identity, but they also tend to have higher levels of relationship satisfaction overall. This difference may stem from the fact that bisexuals are typically attracted to multiple genders, which allows for more variety in partner selection and therefore greater compatibility.
Bisexuals may feel less societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles, leading to more freedom in expressing their sexuality.
Fidelity is another area where bisexuality can impact perceptions. Because bisexuals are attracted to people of different genders, there is a potential for infidelity that does not exist in relationships between two people of the same gender.
This does not necessarily mean that bisexuals are more likely to cheat. In fact, many bisexuals remain faithful to their partners despite the temptation. They may simply see their attractions as part of their natural makeup rather than something they need to suppress or deny.
Bisexuality can influence how people perceive commitment. For some couples, biphobia can lead to hesitation about committing to someone who is openly bisexual.
Others see bisexuality as a way to keep things exciting and spontaneous. It all depends on the couple's communication style and ability to navigate these issues together.
Research suggests that bisexuality does not inherently cause problems with relational satisfaction, fidelity, or commitment. Rather, it requires understanding, patience, and empathy from both parties to maintain a healthy relationship.
How does bisexuality influence perceptions of relational satisfaction, fidelity, and commitment?
Research suggests that individuals who identify as bisexual may experience challenges related to relational satisfaction, fidelity, and commitment due to social stigma, internalized biases, and discrimination within both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ communities (Davis et al. , 2017).