Compersion is said to be a non-sexual state of empathetic happiness and joy experienced when an individual's romantic partner experiences happiness and joy through an outside source, including, but not limited to, another romantic interest. The concept is now widespread within the polyamorous community, and was originally coined by the now defunct Kerista Commune in San Francisco.

It is common for people within the polyamorous community to state that jealousy comes with the territory of open romantic relationships. Compersion has often been referred to as "the opposite of jealousy" and some advocates state that through time and experience, becomes an efficient method for combating jealousy...