As someone who was previously in a polyamorous relationship, I take offense to this. I am offended that you see Steve pursuing polyamory as something worthy of a "disorder." Basically, yes - he IS thinking rationally. A guy wants to support his family and keep it together. His wife accepts his wishes and wants to do the same thing so they agree to carry out a poly system. Results? Family gets to stay together, Steve gets to be happy, Erin is too. Everyone wins. Omg...sounds pretty rational and sane to me.
Just because something is upsetting to someone or even to mass societal norms does not make that someone or society correct. Just because something might be disturbing does not change it from being true. I actually find the inside of a human being really gross and disturbing, as I probably could or should, but it's there. People get divorced all the time because of infidelity and the rates are still incredibly high - most people ARE poly by nature. That might disturb you, but it doesn't change it from being true.
Polyamory is about allowing love to come into your life. I've met people that do not care about sex at all, and I've met people that seem like they HAVE to have it. I'm one of those people that sex is very important to them. So if I'm not getting sex from my ONE girlfriend, just what am I supposed to do? Funny, I'm starting to sound like Steve talking about needs.
Maybe he does want better sex, and that's what it's all about. Sorry, but that sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
Sex IS IMPORTANT. American culture teaches us that we shouldn't think about sex that much, and religious conservatism makes it out to be wrong when it's not. The mantra has to be repeated here: we're sexual beings.
Sex is a very important part of many people's fulfillment. Tantra and other sexual practices show that sex can be an extremely spiritual experience, not just a "physical" or "emotional" one. The same way that humanity has need for ritual and routine, it also has need for sex.
For the short period of time I was able to sustain a happy poly relationship, it was COMPLETE bliss, for a number of reasons. The experience of going to sleep with girlfriend #1 to wake up and spend the day with girlfriend #2 was a trip! I'd have a deep intimacy with #1 and then would go to school. In between classes, I'd sit down and cuddle a bit with #2. We'd eat cheese crackers, drink tea together, and talk about whatever. It was the kind of experience that poly interested people dream of.
Having two different people to share everything with was easily and logically twice as good as one. It was mind expanding; I was able to get two viewpoints on everything. When one girl didn't want to go do something, I'd ask the other. It was variety in every sense of the word. Polyamory is not about cutting out those you once cared about or dividing anybody. If it's for real, love cannot be divided, only MULTIPLIED!
I'm back to being monogamous now, and it was a big step to do so. To this day, I am monogamous while going against what I believe.
It's often said that insanity is determined by how well one can function in society, and I'd say both Steve and Erin are functioning quite well. So even if it IS pointless you have an "opinion" such as that one, it's an opinion you shouldn't have, because the reasoning for it is wrong. You make it sound by both the original post and the topic title that he choosing polyamory is representative of some "disorder" in his personality.
Polyamory is sanity and logic. It's monogamy that is nutty and should be deemed with many people a personality disorder. Monogamy might be right for some, but there are TONS of people who are trying to force it in their lives when it really has no place with who they really are and what fulfills them.