Why do we, the USA, want monogamy while over 90% of human cultures all favor polygamy?

Question

Polygamy is natural in nature and more common especially in mammals. Our biology wires us to do this so why fight it?

Answer 1

Can you reference the place where you got that 90% of human cultures favor polygamy? I wonder about your facts.

Answer 2

Because we live in a country whos government has been infiltrated by "religious right" wackos?

Answer 3

Our cultural heritage comes basically from Christianity, and that faith restricts sexual relationships to monogamy and marriage.  But that is changing, particularly with divorce in the last few hundred years (Anglican Church was the biggie) and more recently with same-s*x marriages.  Polygamy hangs in there.  

In a way, prohibiting polygamy keeps the peace for the less-than-10"-d**k guys who have a nice, healthy, sexual drive, don't you think?  

I mean, with guns so easily acquired, even a guy with a 4" erect p****r can get a woman from an unarmed Mr. Studley...  So, in a way, monogamy diminishes the violence that can too often occur with mate-finding behaviors by leveling the "playing field", if we can call it that.

(I do think your 90% figure is way too high, though.  But, you're correct in questioning the "natural" way vis-a-vis mammals...)

Answer 4

90 per cent or more human cultures favored monogamy.  Polygamy is not hard wired in our biology.  Ask you girl or boy friend if she /he would mind if you see another.

Answer 5

Everyone here is widely against polygamy, but none have given reasons why??

Is it morally wrong? If it is who said so?

How has our culture play a role in it?

Answer 6

It is largely cultural.  A lot of countries in the West have very large Christian populations (Protestant and Catholic), which support monogamy as the best way to live according to Church doctrine or the Bible.  These values have been written into law, perpetuating this system.

I wouldn't say that polygamy is natural for humans, per se, since we have the ability to function in all sorts of mating systems (and do so), many of which are seen in primates.  Interestingly, in the USA, serial monogamy is on the rise :)

Answer 7

I wish there was an abuse category for 'multiple post' violations.

That said, please cite your references and authorities.

Answer 8

Uh, whoever told you over 90% of human cultures are polygamous was lying to you.

Also, many critters are monogomous.

You have no evidence for saying that our biology wires us for polygamy.

Answer 9

AIDS comes to mind when I hear ignorant statements.

Answer 10

Women are disposed to seek alpha male when they have no children, at this point they are looking for the best fit, and sometimes they will shop around a while too. After they becomes more conservative over their next relationship as their criterias evolve with the care for the child... Men don't really feel this caring thing, so they continue to shop around spreading their genes... This look like that I am talking about humans, but it also works for some other mammals and monkeys, and even tigers!! So we are not that much different, it is only that we follow our society rules as much as we may feel to follow nature rules... So animals look around, and man .... I prefer not to be an animal, so I keep myself away from temptations...

Answer 11

Men want it.  The average woman does not.  Check out Warren Jeffs if you thing Polygamy is the wave of the future.

Answer 12

So you are lowering the human species to dogs that hump anything that moves?  Interesting.....

Answer 13

Humans have chosen an unnatural path.  We have g**s, too.  Totally unnatural.

I can't say I like the thought of another man's unit in my girl, anyway.

Although I certainly wouldn't mind have one girl for each night.

Answer 14

When the ratio of females to males are close to even, polyandry or polygamy will not work.

When more males died in war and the hunt during ancient times the outcome may have been polygamy.

If China and India continues to kill its female babies polyandry may be common there sometime in the future.

Answer 15

WOW - a bit of ethnocentrism out there.  Be aware that our western philosophy is only one of many the world has ever seen - and that it is actually one of the most recent.

In reality this is a very complex issue and not one where you will find an easy answer - with that in mind.......

If you want to check on his numbers go to the Human Relations Area Files at a local college.  This system tracks the results of studies on cultures from around the world that have been made over the last 150 years.

I am not sure about the 90% #, but I do know that the majority of CULTURES ever studied do see polygmy or polygny (one woman many men) as the ideal arrangement - but that does not mean it is the most practiced form.  In reality, even in those cultures where poly-partners are the identified ideal - it is expected that all spouses will be treated equally, and if you can not afford to provide for multiples, it is not acceptable to "marry" them.  In actual practice, this usaully keeps the number of spouses to one.

It is also important to be aware of what "marriage" actually is and that it differs from culture to culture.  In some societeis marriage is fleeting and expected to be impermanent.  It serves primarily as a way to legitimize the children and provide them with connections to the rest of society.  However the parents can change partners and marry others whenever they want  (again this is only in some cultures),.

As for is there a biological basis behind this.....some folks ascribe to a theory known as socio-biology in which it is assumed that your genes will make choices (all kinds) based on what is the best approach to insure that your offspring survive.  

***Official disclaimer - I always use when teaching this subject.  DO NOT use the following to justify bad/dangerouse behavior!!!!!****

The theory is very complex and this is just a very simplified summary - When looking at mating, sociobiology explains multiple female partners as a way for a male to maximize the potential for their genes to survive.  The more widely those genes are spread - the more likely they will survive, with minmal effort on his part.  The drawback to this approach is that the male will not be there to help the offspring survive directly.  By contrast, since a female can only produce one offspring at a time - it is a better survival strategy for her to put a lot of effort into that one offspring.

In a group where a male stays with one female - a different strategy is in play - one of putting a lot of effort into the protection of that one offspring on his part - making it more likely the one will survive.  The drawback to this approach is that if the one offsrping does not survive - the males genes not being widespread - there is a reduced potential that they will survive.

Answer 16

read "the naked ape" by desmond morris.  it has interesting information about how monogamy developed.  there are lots of reasons other cultures engage in polygamy, it's not about biology.  we are also far from the only culture that practices monogamy.