Episode 304: What Is Compersion?

Jun 25, 2024

Marie Thouin, a dating and relationship coach, discusses compersion in non-monogamous relationships. Topics include learning to feel compersion, age's impact on compersion, and different approaches to cultivating compersion. The discussion explores the dynamics of compersion and its relation to sex and relationships.

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

Understanding Compersion in Relationships

02:57 • 2min

Exploring Compersion Beyond Monogamy

05:06 • 4min

Understanding Compersion and its Relation to Sex and Relationships

08:56 • 5min

Exploring Compersion and Non-Monogamy

14:13 • 16min

Exploring the Importance of a Healthy Relationship Ecosystem

29:53 • 2min

When you take pleasure in your partner’s pleasure or happiness, this is known as compersion. It’s a form of positive empathy that many people in non-monogamous relationships experience. However, some people seem to have an easier time feeling compersion than others. So can it be learned? And should compersion always be a goal in non-monogamy? Let’s talk about it!

My guest is Marie Thouin, PhD, a dating and relationship coach and author of the new book: What Is Compersion? Understanding Positive Empathy in Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships. Marie is the founder of Love InSight, a mindful dating and relationship coaching practice where she supports people of all backgrounds and relational orientations to create intentional and vibrant love lives.

Some of the topics we cover in this episode include:

Why does compersion seem to come easier to some people?
Does our ability to experience compersion change with age?
Can you learn how to feel compersion if you’ve never felt it before?
What are some different approaches to learning compersion?

You can check out Marie’s website to learn more about her work.

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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