This is another instance in which the people involved strongly influence the outcome. In conventional relationships, the end is much more likely to be bitter than in a poly relationship. Since you have different levels of polyamorous relationships, however, you will find many different results. You can never guarantee what any individual will do, but you can possibly come up with an educated guess based on the basic generalizations of the poly lifestyle. The ideal poly views include the belief that love is unconditional, and that any relationship in which you are involved requires some level of love and emotion. Here are a few different situations:

Poly to Poly Relationship

In this instance, both partners in the relationship are truly polyamorous, meaning that they have practiced poly relationships successfully for a good deal of time, and both strongly believe in the polyamorous views. In this type of relationship, the break-up is most likely a consentual decision to concentrate on other relationships, or is an effect of circumstance, such as one partner moving away. You may also have instances where two people have grown different over time, since people are constantly changing, and have found that they simply are no longer compatible or able to meet each other's needs. These relationships probably never end in most cases, they simply become Tertiary, and probably no longer involve sex. The partners part as friends, who will always have a special place for each other in their hearts.

Poly to Poly-Curious Relationships

In this instance, one partner is what we would consider truly polyamorous, while the other was curious to try the poly lifestyle and see if it suited them. The poly partner is not likely to have hard feelings. If the poly-curious partner has decided that polyamory is working for them, and perhaps has initiated other poly relationships, the break-up is more likely to be the same as a poly to poly relationship. However, if the poly-curious partner has decided that the poly lifestyle does not suit them, there is the possibility that the break-up may be somewhat hostile. Even so, if the relationship was good, and the poly-curious partner is ending it simply because they will be more happy with a monogamous relationship, there is a good possibility that they will part as friends.

Poly-Curious to Poly-Curious Relationships

With two poly-curious partners, the chances for a bad ending increases somewhat, since there is twice the chance that at least one partner has decided the lifestyle does not suit them. The outcome here will really depend on what each partner would be likely to do in any previous conventional relationships, on the success of the relationship when it was in progress, and on the reason for the break-up.

Poly to Non-Poly Relationships

In this instance, a poly and a non-poly person developed an interest in one another, and although the non-poly was not sure what to think of the polyamorous lifestyle, they have chosen to attempt a relationship simply because their interest in the other partner was strong. These break-ups will most likely occur because the non-poly partner has decided that they are not happy with a poly lifestyle. Once again, the poly partner is not likely to have hard feelings, but the non-poly partner may. The outcome here will again depend on what the non-poly partner would be likely to do in any previous conventional relationships, on the success of the relationship when it was in progress, and on the reason for the break-up.

Personality Conflicts

Often, a relationship will end because partners realize that their personalitites are incompatible. This situation can arise early in the relationship, as the partners are getting to know one another, or may arise well into the relationship, as time and life situations cause changes in personality, lifestyle, or views. In this case, partners obviously may find it difficualt to maintain a friendship after the breakup, since they have incompatible personalities. However, ideally, there should be no pointed hostility, just a desire not to spend time with one another.

These hypothetical situations are very generalized, and do not take all possibilities into account, but they give you a general idea of what can happen depending on the polyamorous personality of each partner.

*Definitions modified and used from "Loving More" and various informational publications