Screenshot of William Shatner as Captain James Kirk surrounded by tribbles, Source Star Trek: The Original Series, Episode “The Trouble with Tribbles”, Copyright © 1967 Paramount Pictures (Fair Use)
There was an old Star Trek episode titled “The Trouble with Tribbles” [1]. Cute and furry little creatures, tribbles multiplied rapidly when fed, and had the potential to destroy entire ecosystems as a result. The trouble with throuples is not dissimilar.
Throuples, for those unfamiliar with the term, are sexual relationships comprised of three individuals [2]. The fad is a modern variant on polygamy which is again in vogue, as People Magazine and reality TV reflect.
The concept may at first seem titillating. Why not explore our sexuality to the fullest extent? It’s “obvious” no single individual can fulfill all our needs. And why should we have to fulfill the needs of someone else, when that burden can so easily be shared?
Theoretically, each member of a throuple is an equal partner. Presumably, however, the group can decide to distribute power differently. With or without consent, both power and attraction can, also, shift within the group.
Unfortunately, tensions that can exist between a married couple are multiplied in the context of a throuple, not diminished. That applies whether the group involves one man/two women, one woman/two men, three women, or three men (and whatever the sexual orientation within the group). Continue reading
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