Is monogamy a natural human trait or a socially enforced requirement?

Question

Quackthulu2 · Accepted Answer

Oh, it’s absolutely a societal fabrication. Human monogamy is 100% a myth. Let me put it this way. In your life how many people have you known to start their very first relationship, stay with that same person for life, have kids or whatever. Then die, still together? Sure it happens from time to time, but when left to our own devices, without interference by religion or government we don’t do that. People will seek out different partners, date and break up. Marry and divorce, experiment, cheat, and explore different options. Because that is our nature, monogamy is not.

Nikki1989 · Accepted Answer

Well, people think it is socially enforced. In reality, people are free to do whatever they want.

burlen · Answer

There is evidence to suggest that monogamy may not be the only natural human trait and that humans have a capacity for both monogamous and non-monogamous relationships.

Some researchers argue that human mating patterns are influenced by a combination of biology and culture, and that both monogamy and non-monogamy have evolved in different societies and time periods depending on environmental and cultural factors.

For example, a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that individuals in societies with high levels of gender equality and low levels of resource scarcity were more likely to engage in monogamous relationships, while individuals in societies with low levels of gender equality and high levels of resource scarcity were more likely to engage in non-monogamous relationships.

Proponents of the idea that monogamy is a natural human trait argue that it is rooted in evolutionary biology. They argue that humans have evolved to form long-term monogamous relationships in order to raise offspring together, which increases the chances of survival for both the parents and the offspring. A study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that monogamous relationships are associated with higher levels of parental investment, which can increase the survival and success of offspring.

On the other hand, proponents of the idea that monogamy is a socially enforced requirement argue that it is a cultural construct that varies across different societies and time periods. They argue that the prevalence of monogamy in a society is influenced by cultural, economic, and political factors, and that it is not a universal human trait. A study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family found that the prevalence of monogamy varies across different societies and time periods, and that it is not always the dominant form of relationship in human societies.

Some researchers argue that human mating patterns are influenced by individual differences, such as personality, preferences, and life history, and that individuals may choose to engage in different forms of relationships depending on their individual needs and goals. A study published in the Journal of Sex Research found that individuals with high levels of neuroticism and low levels of agreeableness were less likely to engage in monogamous relationships, while individuals with high levels of extraversion and low levels of neuroticism were more likely to engage in non-monogamous relationships.

RavVid · Answer

A reasonably natural trait but not one without exceptions or variant. Most of us have experienced enough infatuation or love to know that pair bonding is a strong impulse. With chimps, the females disperse to other troops but with hunter gatherers both the younger males and females might disperse to other sub tribes or might not.

An evolutionary advantage of monogamy is incest can be avoided and an advantage of dispersal is that more DNA variation is spread across sub-tribes whereas a sub-tribe of 30 could have significant inbreeding within a few generations. Another advantage is co-operation is enhanced if there are sons an daughters in the other sub-tribe. A father might not be so eager to go raping and killing if he has genetic investment in the other sub-tribe.

So it is evolutionary useful that a father knows his children and monogamy supports that. Polygyny and Polyandry can also support this. But anthropologists find that irrespective of culture, monogamy is far more common.

We can say monogamy is mostly so but we cannot say is always so.

A billionaire with good investments could probably afford a 1,000 wives and certainly provide 200 wives with luxury if you rough the numbers out.

For most women it is advantageous to get a man to devote what he produces to her (and his) children.

ODC2112 · Answer

Monogamy is a social construct created for practicality. Human societies are polygamous, or rather they are polygynous, i. e. a man has many female partners, not always linked to him stably.
Anthropologists have a major problem explaining why they ceased this practice. From the point of view of biology and evolution, having multiple mating partners increases the probability of reproduction and, therefore, the probability of propagating one's genes. They therefore had to balance the cost of the transition to monogamy with other benefits. But which ones?

The answer lies in disease containment. In hunter-gatherer communities, disease containment was irrelevant since the communities were small. But in agrarian societies, disease containment became important because communities were larger.

In fact, when a society has few individuals, or comprises many individuals living in separate colonies, sexually transmitted diseases have a limited impact, and polygyny guarantees greater fertility, so it is preserved. If, on the other hand, the society is very large, with a few hundred individuals, sexually transmitted infections become endemic in the population, reducing fertility.

Sun_Kim-Ai · Answer

I honestly think it's more a social norm imposed by the Church; but that said I think that some people are naturally predisposed towards that and that's alright.

Although I'm not a practicing polygamist - too much hassle and no time - I've come to believe that polygamy should be legalized and tutelated for the people that can afford it, financially and socially.

My wife agrees with me, although to my costernation she took her idea from former NSDAP secretary Martin Bormann and theorist Witzlenzeben - ie. only a man marrying multiple women, and not equal marriages.

Leopard23 · Answer

Natural. Think about it. Pregnancy is a natural consequence of sex. When a woman gets pregnant and has a kid she's in a vulnerable postion so needs a male partner as provider and protector. So no male is going to act as provider and protector to a woman he doesn't have exclusive sexual access too and to kids that he can't be sure are his. Now if the whole cave has had her what's the point, he can just get sloppy 2nds or 3rds from another cave hoe.

We don't think like this too much in modern times anymore because we got alimony, child support, division, paternity tests of assests etc

Is monogamy a natural human trait or a socially enforced requirement?

MuskratLove · Answer

90% of birds are monogamous, and 95% of mammals are not monogamous. When I read a question on this site or other sites that read: "How long should you wait before having sex in a relationship?' I have to scratch my head. Is there a chart for this? And if so, who made the chart?

I think the idea of monogamy came from the church. And cheating is rampant among church-goers. I love the song "Garden Party."

"Well I'm, alright now. I learned my lesson well. You see, you can't please everyone, so you just got to please yourself."

https://www.youtube.com/embed/60XTeHM9iLQ

Soteris · Answer

I think it is a bit of both. Specifically I think the long time we spend growing up as children require a lot of time and energy from our parents which works best with parents who are dedicated to bringing up their child. It does not have to be a monogamous relationship technically but there is definitely a bias towards it compared to animals who does not raise their children at all.

NewsReader · Answer

Socially enforced. When you got into a relationship (assuming you did at some point), how often did you look at other girls, analyze whether they are hot or not, and dream about f*kking them? I'm sure it happened pretty often. And that's because by nature, men are programmed to spread their seed to as many women possible. It's for survival reasons and growing the population.

Berethor · Answer

Nature versus Nurture trope, I don't think that it matter, because societies are more violent.

Miristheiss · Answer

It is the right way to live. It is the most healthy way to live, the raise children and to have a strong society.

I doubt anyone is really fulfilled and happy sleeping around and alone. Endless hook ups, no stability, used for sex, no kids, no family or a single parent home. It is preached that that is empowering... I think it is a lie.

worldscolide · Answer

Depends on what point in history. When we were a hunter gatherer society, it was not a natural trait. When we became farmers and started becoming civilized, monogamy became a thing. So to answer your question it was societal. That having been said, monogamy is also why our population basically exploded.

The_Shadow_Dweller · Answer

The animals, especially the cats represent sexuality in its true form. Do they have a single partner? Nope. So by nature, we don't.

But the female cats are the ones bearing the weight of children till they become independent. Would girls agree to bear children by themselves, alone? I don't think so. Hence, monogamy is societal restriction.

Single moms are a different case.

xColinx · Answer

It is quite obviously one of the very many religious constructs.

Cool thing is, anyone who bases their world view & results actions around the religious textbook of their choice, go for it! Live your best life!!

But don't try to force that stuff on the rest of society, especially not through politics. Separation of church & state or everything starts to crack. Oops... too late!

Finchie40 · Answer

It’s a choice , a choice I prefer , if I am giving my heart to someone , I wouldn’t be committed to her if she was running around hooking up with other guys the same way she wouldn’t be with me if I was hooking up with other girls , so it’s a choice to stay committed to each other

inhua · Answer

attraction is biological. not political

given the disasters within the dating market and the fact the vast majority of marriages are failing with women filing for divorce in most of them shows that the human species is naturally more polygamous than monogamous even though monogamy gives both parties and their offspring the best chance of survival

RealMarek · Answer

It is both. It evolved naturally because polygamous societies are incredibly violent to the extent that the selection of top-tier males is outweighed by the mortality rate from violence caused by having large populations of men without families.

FilmGuy93 · Answer

I used to think it was purely a social construct, but I'm coming around to the idea that humans like monogamy more than we want to admit.

There's something about giving yourself to another person that just... fucks with people's minds. I don't think humans are built to do that casually. Even the idea that rape used to be a super commonplace thing throughout history; I'm just not sure how much I believe it.

petitedollbabee · Answer

Socially enforced, mostly by religion. If you look through history, a lot of people weren’t monogamous until Christianity and other monogamy-enforcing religions hit.

ChiTown33 · Answer

Both. Neither.

The fact is some people only look at other people for whatever they can exploit them for.

But there are also some people who at people's depth. They admire and appreciate thier strengths and forgive and accept thier shortcomings.

People choose monogamy when they meet someone and in thier view every other member of the opposite gender disappears. They simply don't want any other anymore.

RolandCuthbert · Answer

I would tend to think it is a social construct. Like most things with humans. Some societies take it more seriously than others.

HaveNoName · Answer

If you take religion out of the equation, everything starts giving rise to miliion points of debate. And I am talking about the institution of marriage. If you think marriage is just a piece of paper, then do as you please. What difference does it make.

Monogamy for men is a social construct. Religiously speaking, even though it is allowed, it is not encouraged and in fact, there are warmings given about how you may be digging a hole for yourself.

EmmaMary · Answer

It's still very much considered socially enforced... However, it's also everyone's prerogative to choose what they wish to do.

LivDev · Answer

I mean... anthropologically, rape and polygyny is more common than monogamy. So I don't know if we really wanna play the nature vs nurture thing in this case lol. It wouldn't be in our best interests.

loveslongnails · Answer

Monogamy is not a natural human trait, especially for men. If it were "natural", then wouldn't all humans be monogamous except for the genetically defective ones? LOL

JayParris · Answer

If monogamy was a natural human behavior, there would be no need for marriage or labeling relationships. Two people getting together exclusively for life would just happen on its own, as it does in some other species.

sheenagwapa · Answer

the new testament is encouraging monogamy even single blessedness to focus on God  and by the way it is not just men who wanna have a lot of partners women also wanna have a lot of partnerd

Anonymous · Answer

Monogamy is likely a natural response to the human biological needs of long childhoods to develop or brains, absence small hunter gather tribal existence which forced us together with support regardless.

Gibbons44 · Answer

Makes no sense for a male to share, since female genitalia collect and store. For female - I coukdn't tell you, it's a social construct, whatever gets considered allowed, preferred, acceptable etc.

NostalgiaSenpi · Answer

I find polyamory repulsive. My natural state is monogamous.

Sirenboobzilla · Answer

I think it's social. Our closest relative in the animal kingdom are bonobos and they're very poly

RMorus · Answer

The answer is given by the stone age "customs".

Xoirwinkan · Answer

Don't know if it's 'natural' but it certainly works better.

DarkLegacy · Answer

It is a social norm, i read a survey that says over 70% of people have cheated. Mammals are not monogamous

OddBeMe · Answer

Both. It’s certainly observable in the animal kingdom, like penguins. But most animals are pretty polygamous. So much so they kill a mothers babies to get her in “heat”.

RusticFox · Answer

For some people it's natural for others it's a socially enforced requirement. There is a reason infidelity is so rampart in today's culture.

Jennz6 · Answer

Socially enforced behavior

EaterPeter · Answer

Natural human trait control tendency.

Agape93 · Answer

Bit of both

Jamie05rhs · Answer

It is the natural design.

SunnyRS · Answer

It's a social norm according to me

Tim-loves-it · Answer

I think that monogamy is socially enforced

AshlynCakes · Answer

Socially enforced

In_Trance · Answer

Socially enforced

Dargil · Answer

It is both.

riverrat3 · Answer

Not normal

Is monogamy a natural human trait or a socially enforced requirement?

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