Analysis of the Numerous Benefits of Monogamy

Monogamy is a form of relationship or mating system whereby a maleor female remains with a single partner during their lifetime, often entering intoa custom of marriage. Conversely, polygamy is the practice of marrying multiple spouses (Emlen and Oring, 1977). Monogamy is considered to be a superior mating system froma number ofdifferent viewpoints. These points of viewhighlightseveraladvantages of monogamy over polygamy. In this paper, the benefits of monogamy will be discussed, including reasons why it has become the major form of mating system in western societies, based on economic, anthropological and sociological factors.

It can be argued that there are a number of economic issuesthat determine why monogamy is the more successful mating system. Firstly, the cost of modern livinghas become so expensive that a male or femalecan find it difficult to marry more than one partnerand support a larger number of offspring (Emlen and Oring, 1977). It would be extremely difficult to have or earn enough resources to provide adequately for things such asfood and education for each child. The consequences of failing to provide this support couldresult inimprisonment and social exclusion.

Economic stability is another example of how monogamy appears to be a morewidely accepted practice than polygamy. Many families these days do not live in economically stable parts of the world, places where politicians, officials and even cartels can have a huge impact on available income. A huge number of people in the world live below the poverty line and their standards of living are too low to support polygamous relationships. It is preferential, therefore, to cohabit with a single partner (Trivers, 1972).Economic dataconfirms that there is a substantial difference in wealth between people who practice monogamy and those who practice polygamy.

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In support of this view, anthropological data shows that there aremany people in industrialized places who are jobless or have a low income. Unsurprisingly, in these same areas, there are high incidences of unmarried males and females. Although unmarried individuals can have sex with many different partners, this seems to suggest that it is difficult for polygamy to exist and to be successfully practiced in places with high unemployment and low levels of income.

Additionally, it can be argued that monogamy is muchmoresuccessful form of mating system when it is practiced in such places. Although levels of marriage are low, cohabiting with a single partner is advantageous for pooling income and being eligible for tax incentives or state benefits. In many modern societies, the monogamous relationship and 'family unit' areconsidered to be more stable and have a higher status compared with single people, or those involved in polygamous relationships, which can in turn lead to better job opportunities and a wider social circle.

Polygamy has been practiced in 85% of human societies historically, but monogamous marriage appears to be more widely accepted in modern societiesaround the world, even as differences in wealth have expanded compared to those of ancient times (Kenrick and Keefe, 1992). One reason why this could be is due to a favoring of monogamy in the evolution of cultures, based on beneficial group effects, which promote success in competition between inter-groups. Monogamous marriages reducethe numbers of unmarried males and femalesand promote social bonding based on a traditional family structure (Kenrick and Keefe, 1992).

It can be argued that a monogamous mating system also reduces rates of crime in societies. Statistics show that women and married men commit far fewer violent crimes than single men. In a polygamous society, evidence suggests that there are many more single men. Therefore polygamous societies can be considered more violent. When the pool of unmarried men is high, there is also an additional pressure on married women to commit adultery, which can lead to the destruction of social and family bonds (Kenrick and Keefe, 1992).

Also, many societies that showa preference for monogamy have been able to alter and reduce social problems thatseem tocharacterize polygamist cultures. Cultures which encourage polygamy seem to containhigh incidences of intersexual competition, which, in turn, can cause higherrates of fraud, poverty, gender inequality and violent crimes than in societies which practice a monogamous mating system (Elbedour, Bart and Hektner 2007). According to a research study done by the University of British Columbia,it appearsthat monogamous marriage is a dominant culture and suggests that the institution of monogamous marriage is replacing that of polygamous marriage, due to thelower incidenceof social problems.

The UBC researchalso highlights a further key evolutionary advantage formonogamy over polygamy. This research contends that there is a more even distribution of females and a concurrent reductionin the level of competition in predominantly monogamous societies, when compared to polygamous societies and mating systems (Elbedour, Bart and Hektner 2007).

Institutionalized monogamy also leads to an increase in malepaternal investment, by encouraging a focus shift away from seeking women to a greater concentrationon their offspring. This leads to economic productivity, financialinvestment, savings and a long-term planning of their future. The monogamous mating system is also widely accepted due to itsincorporation intodifferent religions such asCatholicism, Christianity and Judaism.

It is possible to see that there are many factors that characterize awide acceptance of a monogamous mating system andmarriage over that ofpolygamy. Due to severalsocial, anthropological and economic benefits that monogamous marriage provides,there is a definite advantagefor members of societywho reject any perceived benefits of polygamous marriage (for example, greater procreative opportunity and dissemination of genes).

Polygamous marriage is seen as more unreliable, and there is evidence to suggest it has a detrimental effect on societies where it is widely practiced. This includes higher rates of crime and lower levels of social cohesion. Instead, most modern societies function on the understanding that it is better topursue monogamy, working towards the creation of a family unit that has the benefit of greater stability, higher social status and a higher likelihood that children willgrow to adulthood and repeat the cycle.

References

1. Emlen, S. T., & Oring, L. W. (1977). Ecology, sexual selection, and the evolution of mating systems. Science, 197(4300), 215-223.
2. Trivers, R. (1972). Parental investment and sexual selection(Vol. 136, p. 179). Cambridge, MA: Biological Laboratories, Harvard University. Kenrick, D. T., & Keefe, R. C. (1992). Age preferences in mates reflect sex differences in human reproductive strategies. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 15(1), 75-91.
3. Elbedour, S., Bart, W., & Hektner, J. (2007). The relationship between monogamous/polygamous family structure and the mental health of Bedouin Arab adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 30(2), 213-230.

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