A three-person relationship, often called a “throuple”, is the focus of a new Today in Focus podcast exploring how relationships involving three partners can work — and why some can become difficult.
The Guardian podcast speaks with Rachael, Aaron and Kasey, a three-person couple who married in a beach wedding in Mexico. They describe how they met, how their relationship developed and the ways they try to make a three-way partnership work.
Different experiences of three-person relationships
The episode also features Caitlin, whose experience in a throuple ended more painfully. Her story provides a contrasting perspective on the practical and emotional challenges that can arise when three people are involved in an intimate relationship.
Journalist Kitty Drake discusses the growing visibility of throuples and some of the criticism they have faced within the broader polyamorous community.
Communication and boundaries
As with other relationships, three-person partnerships can involve questions around communication, trust, boundaries and how decisions are made. Adding another partner can also create different expectations and dynamics between individuals.
For people in any sexual relationship, conversations about health and protection can also be important. Our guide, Safer sex after 50: testing and protection, covers testing, communication and ways to reduce sexually transmitted infection risks.
The podcast does not present one model as suitable for everyone. Instead, it brings together different experiences to examine what can make a three-person relationship work and what can happen when expectations or relationships break down.
Source: The Guardian – Today in Focus
