Monogamy

Definition

Monogamy is the practice of having a single romantic partner or spouse at a given time. It is a common marital and reproductive strategy observed across various human societies and some animal species.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Monogamy is a common mating system in humans, with the majority of societies practicing some form of monogamous marriage.
2. Monogamous relationships can provide benefits such as increased parental investment, resource sharing, and reduced risk of sexually transmitted infections.
3. Primates, including humans, exhibit a range of mating systems, from strictly monogamous to highly polygynous, depending on ecological and social factors.
4. The prevalence of monogamy in a society is influenced by cultural norms, economic factors, and the relative costs and benefits of different reproductive strategies.
5. Monogamy is not always strictly enforced, and some cultures may practice serial monogamy or allow for extramarital relationships under certain circumstances.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of monogamy relates to the field of ethnography and ethnology.
  • Ethnographers and ethnologists study the diverse cultural practices and social structures of human societies, including the various forms of marriage and family organization. Monogamy, as a prevalent marital and reproductive strategy, is a key focus of these disciplines. Researchers examine how the prevalence and cultural acceptance of monogamy varies across different societies, and how it is influenced by factors such as economic conditions, gender roles, and religious beliefs. Understanding the role of monogamy in different cultural contexts is crucial for anthropologists to gain a comprehensive understanding of human social and familial structures.
• Describe the significance of monogamy in the context of primate behavior and evolution.
  • Monogamy is an important aspect of primate social and reproductive behavior, as it is observed in various primate species, including some of our closest evolutionary relatives. Primatologists study the factors that influence the prevalence of monogamous mating systems in different primate species, such as resource distribution, predation risk, and parental investment. The comparative analysis of mating systems across primate species can provide insights into the evolutionary origins and adaptive advantages of monogamy, which may have influenced the emergence of monogamous tendencies in human societies.
• Analyze the role of monogamy in shaping marriage and family structures across different cultures.
  • Monogamy is a central feature of marriage and family structures in many human societies, but its specific manifestations can vary significantly across cultures. Anthropologists examine how the cultural acceptance and practice of monogamy, as opposed to other forms of marriage such as polygamy, influence the organization of kinship networks, the division of labor within households, the inheritance of resources, and the socialization of children. The study of monogamy in the context of marriage and families across cultures provides valuable insights into the diverse ways in which human societies have adapted to social, economic, and environmental pressures through the institution of monogamous relationships.

Related terms

Polygamy:

The practice of being married to multiple partners simultaneously, either in the form of polygyny (one man with multiple wives) or polyandry (one woman with multiple husbands).

Pair-bonding: The formation of close, emotional attachments between two individuals, often for the purpose of mating and raising offspring.

Reproductive Strategy: The biological and behavioral adaptations that organisms employ to maximize their reproductive success and ensure the survival of their offspring.