Amy C. Moors
About me:
Hi! I'm Amy. I am an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Chapman University and a Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. My research focuses on diverse expressions of sexuality, intimate relationships, and well-being. My expertise is in consensually non-monogamous relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. For more information, visit: www.amycmoors.com
Academic and Professional Background:
Prior to joining Chapman University, I was the Director of the Social Science Research and Evaluation at Purdue University. I also completed a postdoctoral scholar position at the National Center for Institutional Diversity and at the University of Michigan's ADVANCE Program.
I earned a Ph.D. in Psychology (Personality and Social Contexts) and Women's Studies at the University of Michigan, a M.S. in Experimental Psychology at Villanova University, and a B.A. in Psychology and Women's Studies from William Paterson University.
Contact for collaborations and media requests: amycmoors@gmail.com.
Please don't email me through academia.edu, I do not receive these messages.
Hi! I'm Amy. I am an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Chapman University and a Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. My research focuses on diverse expressions of sexuality, intimate relationships, and well-being. My expertise is in consensually non-monogamous relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. For more information, visit: www.amycmoors.com
Academic and Professional Background:
Prior to joining Chapman University, I was the Director of the Social Science Research and Evaluation at Purdue University. I also completed a postdoctoral scholar position at the National Center for Institutional Diversity and at the University of Michigan's ADVANCE Program.
I earned a Ph.D. in Psychology (Personality and Social Contexts) and Women's Studies at the University of Michigan, a M.S. in Experimental Psychology at Villanova University, and a B.A. in Psychology and Women's Studies from William Paterson University.
Contact for collaborations and media requests: amycmoors@gmail.com.
Please don't email me through academia.edu, I do not receive these messages.
less
InterestsView All (24)
Uploads
Papers
with evaluations of therapy. Open-end responses about what clients found very helpful and very unhelpful were also analyzed. Results: Exemplary and inappropriate practices constituted separate, but related patterns of therapist conduct. As expected, perceptions of exemplary and inappropriate practices predicted therapist helpfulness ratings and whether participants prematurely terminated their therapeutic relationships. Qualitative results point toward the importance of having/pursuing knowledge about CNM and using affirming, nonjudgmental practices. Conclusions: Therapists are positioned to either combat or perpetuate the minority stress faced by individuals engaged in CNM. The results of this study highlight the need for additional research, training, and guidelines regarding CNM clients and their therapy experiences.
and research on relationship quality, and we addressed how this bias has prompted methodological issues that make
it difficult to effectively address the quality of nonmonogamous relationships. Because the idea that consensually
nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships are functional (i.e., satisfying and of high quality) is controversial, we included
a basic study to assess, in a variety of ways, the quality of these relationships. In that study, we found few differences
in relationship functioning between individuals engaged in monogamy and those in CNM relationships. We then
considered how existing theories could help researchers to understand CNM relationships and how CNM relationships
could shed light on relationship processes, and we proposed a model of how CNM and monogamous relationships
differ. Finally, in a second study, we determined that even researchers who present data about CNM are affected by
the stigma surrounding such relationships. That is, researchers presenting findings favoring polyamory were perceived
as more biased than researchers presenting findings favoring monogamy.
In a sample of 27 couples (54 individuals) expecting their first child, both parents' salivary testosterone was measured multiple times across pregnancy. At approximately 3.5 months postpartum, participants rated their investment, commitment, and satisfaction with their partner. A multilevel model was used to measure change in testosterone over time and associations between mother and father testosterone. Fathers who showed stronger declines in T across pregnancy, and stronger correlations with mothers' testosterone, reported higher postpartum investment, commitment, and satisfaction. Mothers reported more postpartum investment and satisfaction if fathers showed greater prenatal declines in T. These results held even after controlling for paternal investment, commitment, and satisfaction measured prenatally at study entry.
Our results suggest that changes in paternal testosterone across pregnancy, and hormonal linkage with the pregnant partner, may underlie fathers' dedication to the partner relationship across the transition to parenthood.
investigated. By reviewing recent literature surrounding monogamous relationships and sexual behaviors, the
authors determined that monogamy might not prevent against STIs as expected. First, the authors elucidate
the ways in which public health officials and the general public define and interpret monogamy and discuss
how this contributes to monogamy as an ineffectual STI prevention strategy. Second, the authors provide evidence
that individuals' compliance with monogamy is likely to be low, similar to rates of compliance with other medical advice. Lastly, the authors draw upon recent research findings suggesting that people who label themselves as monogamous are less likely to engage in safer sex behaviors than people who have an explicit
agreement with their partner to be non-monogamous. Future research and clinical directions to promote sexual health and destigmatize sexual behaviors are considered.
practitioners can avoid reinforcing mono- and hetero-normativity: (1) conduct research on sexual practices that fall outside the “charmed circle,” (2) avoid assuming that sexual exclusivity is a hallmark feature of a healthy romantic relationship, (3) include consensual non-monogamy in multicultural clinical training, (4) ask clients about their relationship structure on intake paperwork, and (5) separate the decision to deceit from the desire for sexual and/or romantic novelty when treating cases of infidelity. Our goals were to examine mainstream rhetoric surrounding sexuality and to illustrate contexts in which fellow researchers and practitioners/clinicians can avoid (re)producing hetero- and mono-normative practices.
increased in recent years, there is still a lack of information and a plethora of misinformation concerning non-monogamous romantic relationship dynamics (Conley, Moors, Matsick, & Ziegler, 2012; Conley, Ziegler, Moors, Matsick, & Valentine, 2012). One such notion is that polyamory is differentially damaging to women vis-à-vis men. From a phenomenological perspective, sociocultural values dictate that women, unlike men, are prescribed to be dependent upon monogamy in order to define their selfhood; and indeed, research has provided
evidence in support of this idea, as women are more apt to be offended by the idea of concurrent multiple relationships and are less likely to report a willingness to engage in these types of relationships than men are (Moors, Conley, Edelstein, & Chopik, under review-a). Using a previous review of monogamy as a starting point (Conley, Ziegler, Moors, Matsick, & Valentine, 2012), we will reanalyze two major points from the review piece: sex benefits and jealousy in monogamous and polyamorous relationships. Throughout, we examine if the presumed benefits of monogamy extend to women or if alternative relationship structures, specifically polyamory, afford greater advantages. Additionally, we consider other benefits that may be unique to polyamory for women, including increased agency, financial resources, and extended social support.
who participate in CNM relationships are demographically homogenous (Sheff & Hammers, 2010; Sheff, 2005); however, we argue that this may be an artifact of community-based recruitment strategies that have created an inaccurate reflection of people who engage in CNM. To achieve a more nuanced understanding of the identities of individuals engaged in departures from monogamy, the present study provides a comparative analysis of descriptive statistics of those in CNM
relationships and those in monogamous relationships. Using data from two large online samples, we examined the extent to which individuals with certain demographic variables (gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age) are over- or under-represented in CNM and monogamous relationships. Overall, we aim to promote future research of CNM that is more inclusive of diverse identities.
consensual non-monogamy, and b) desire to engage in different types of consensual non-monogamy (e.g., sexual and romantic/polyamory versus sexual only/swinging), and c) schemas for love? An online community sample of lesbian,
gay, and bisexual individuals (n = 111) were recruited for a study about attitudes toward relationships. Results show that sexual minority men and women hold similar attitudes towardCNMand similar levels of desire to engage in these types
of relationships. Additionally, there were no differences between male and female sexual minorities’ desire to engage in sexual and romantic types of consensual non-monogamy (polyamory) or sexual-oriented types of consensual non-monogamy(swinging). There were also no differences in preference for specific types of love styles among LGB individuals. In sum, it is not just gay men who express
interest in these types of relationships.
with evaluations of therapy. Open-end responses about what clients found very helpful and very unhelpful were also analyzed. Results: Exemplary and inappropriate practices constituted separate, but related patterns of therapist conduct. As expected, perceptions of exemplary and inappropriate practices predicted therapist helpfulness ratings and whether participants prematurely terminated their therapeutic relationships. Qualitative results point toward the importance of having/pursuing knowledge about CNM and using affirming, nonjudgmental practices. Conclusions: Therapists are positioned to either combat or perpetuate the minority stress faced by individuals engaged in CNM. The results of this study highlight the need for additional research, training, and guidelines regarding CNM clients and their therapy experiences.
and research on relationship quality, and we addressed how this bias has prompted methodological issues that make
it difficult to effectively address the quality of nonmonogamous relationships. Because the idea that consensually
nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships are functional (i.e., satisfying and of high quality) is controversial, we included
a basic study to assess, in a variety of ways, the quality of these relationships. In that study, we found few differences
in relationship functioning between individuals engaged in monogamy and those in CNM relationships. We then
considered how existing theories could help researchers to understand CNM relationships and how CNM relationships
could shed light on relationship processes, and we proposed a model of how CNM and monogamous relationships
differ. Finally, in a second study, we determined that even researchers who present data about CNM are affected by
the stigma surrounding such relationships. That is, researchers presenting findings favoring polyamory were perceived
as more biased than researchers presenting findings favoring monogamy.
In a sample of 27 couples (54 individuals) expecting their first child, both parents' salivary testosterone was measured multiple times across pregnancy. At approximately 3.5 months postpartum, participants rated their investment, commitment, and satisfaction with their partner. A multilevel model was used to measure change in testosterone over time and associations between mother and father testosterone. Fathers who showed stronger declines in T across pregnancy, and stronger correlations with mothers' testosterone, reported higher postpartum investment, commitment, and satisfaction. Mothers reported more postpartum investment and satisfaction if fathers showed greater prenatal declines in T. These results held even after controlling for paternal investment, commitment, and satisfaction measured prenatally at study entry.
Our results suggest that changes in paternal testosterone across pregnancy, and hormonal linkage with the pregnant partner, may underlie fathers' dedication to the partner relationship across the transition to parenthood.
investigated. By reviewing recent literature surrounding monogamous relationships and sexual behaviors, the
authors determined that monogamy might not prevent against STIs as expected. First, the authors elucidate
the ways in which public health officials and the general public define and interpret monogamy and discuss
how this contributes to monogamy as an ineffectual STI prevention strategy. Second, the authors provide evidence
that individuals' compliance with monogamy is likely to be low, similar to rates of compliance with other medical advice. Lastly, the authors draw upon recent research findings suggesting that people who label themselves as monogamous are less likely to engage in safer sex behaviors than people who have an explicit
agreement with their partner to be non-monogamous. Future research and clinical directions to promote sexual health and destigmatize sexual behaviors are considered.
practitioners can avoid reinforcing mono- and hetero-normativity: (1) conduct research on sexual practices that fall outside the “charmed circle,” (2) avoid assuming that sexual exclusivity is a hallmark feature of a healthy romantic relationship, (3) include consensual non-monogamy in multicultural clinical training, (4) ask clients about their relationship structure on intake paperwork, and (5) separate the decision to deceit from the desire for sexual and/or romantic novelty when treating cases of infidelity. Our goals were to examine mainstream rhetoric surrounding sexuality and to illustrate contexts in which fellow researchers and practitioners/clinicians can avoid (re)producing hetero- and mono-normative practices.
increased in recent years, there is still a lack of information and a plethora of misinformation concerning non-monogamous romantic relationship dynamics (Conley, Moors, Matsick, & Ziegler, 2012; Conley, Ziegler, Moors, Matsick, & Valentine, 2012). One such notion is that polyamory is differentially damaging to women vis-à-vis men. From a phenomenological perspective, sociocultural values dictate that women, unlike men, are prescribed to be dependent upon monogamy in order to define their selfhood; and indeed, research has provided
evidence in support of this idea, as women are more apt to be offended by the idea of concurrent multiple relationships and are less likely to report a willingness to engage in these types of relationships than men are (Moors, Conley, Edelstein, & Chopik, under review-a). Using a previous review of monogamy as a starting point (Conley, Ziegler, Moors, Matsick, & Valentine, 2012), we will reanalyze two major points from the review piece: sex benefits and jealousy in monogamous and polyamorous relationships. Throughout, we examine if the presumed benefits of monogamy extend to women or if alternative relationship structures, specifically polyamory, afford greater advantages. Additionally, we consider other benefits that may be unique to polyamory for women, including increased agency, financial resources, and extended social support.
who participate in CNM relationships are demographically homogenous (Sheff & Hammers, 2010; Sheff, 2005); however, we argue that this may be an artifact of community-based recruitment strategies that have created an inaccurate reflection of people who engage in CNM. To achieve a more nuanced understanding of the identities of individuals engaged in departures from monogamy, the present study provides a comparative analysis of descriptive statistics of those in CNM
relationships and those in monogamous relationships. Using data from two large online samples, we examined the extent to which individuals with certain demographic variables (gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age) are over- or under-represented in CNM and monogamous relationships. Overall, we aim to promote future research of CNM that is more inclusive of diverse identities.
consensual non-monogamy, and b) desire to engage in different types of consensual non-monogamy (e.g., sexual and romantic/polyamory versus sexual only/swinging), and c) schemas for love? An online community sample of lesbian,
gay, and bisexual individuals (n = 111) were recruited for a study about attitudes toward relationships. Results show that sexual minority men and women hold similar attitudes towardCNMand similar levels of desire to engage in these types
of relationships. Additionally, there were no differences between male and female sexual minorities’ desire to engage in sexual and romantic types of consensual non-monogamy (polyamory) or sexual-oriented types of consensual non-monogamy(swinging). There were also no differences in preference for specific types of love styles among LGB individuals. In sum, it is not just gay men who express
interest in these types of relationships.