Monogamy is a form of relationship in which an individual has only one partner during their lifetime or at any one time. The word monogamy comes from the Greek mono meaning “one” and gamos meaning “marriage”. Monogamous relationships are found all over the world among many different cultures, religions, and animals.
There are several types of monogamy: social monogamy, sexual monogamy, and emotional monogamy. Social monogamy refers to two individuals who live together and share resources such as food and shelter. Sexual monogamy occurs when two individuals mate with each other exclusively. Emotional monogamy happens when two individuals remain faithful to each other even if they are not sexually exclusive. All three types of monogamy can occur simultaneously in a relationship.
Studies have shown that social monogamy is very rare in animals; however, sexual and emotionalmonogamy are much more common. In humans, social monogamy is more common than polygamy (having multiple spouses). About 90% of human societies practice some form of polygamy while only about 10% are strictly monogamous. There are many benefits to being in a polygamous relationship including increased access to resources and greater reproductive success. However, there are also drawbacks such as jealousy and conflict between spouses.
Humans have been practicing various forms of polygamy for centuries; however, it is not clear why some cultures choose to be polygamous while others remain strictly monogamous. One theory is that polygamy evolved because it provided an evolutionary advantage by increasing an individual’s chances of having offspring that survived to adulthood (i). Another theory suggests that polygamy may have arisen due to the fact that males tend to outnumber females in most populations (ii). Whatever the reason for its origins, polygamy remains a controversial practice today with some people arguing that it is unfair to women while others believe it can be beneficial for families and children.