Are humans hardwired for monogamy? | Helen Fisher | Big Think

TL;DR

Monogamy evolved as a result of the need for pair bonding to raise children, while adultery is a natural inclination in some individuals.

Transcript

Monogamy is natural. Adultery is natural too. Neither are part of the supernatural but I don’t think people really understand monogamy. Mono means one and gamy means spouse. One spouse. Polygyny. Poly means many. Gyny means women. Many women. We are an animal that forms pair bonds. We are basically mono gamous, monogamous. We’re also adulterous. I ... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Humans have evolved a dual reproductive strategy of pair bonding and adultery.
• 🤗 Pair bonding likely emerged as an ecological adaptation for survival in open grasslands.
• 👻 Only a small percentage of men are able to have multiple partners in societies where polygyny is allowed.
• 🫤 Monogamy evolved around 4.4 million years ago when our ancestors began walking upright.
• 🤨 Monogamy allows for the joint effort of raising children, ensuring their survival.
• ❓ Adulterous behavior may be a result of restlessness and a predisposition in some individuals.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the meaning of monogamy and polygyny?

Monogamy refers to having one spouse, while polygyny means having multiple spouses, specifically multiple wives.

Q: How common is monogamy among mammals?

Monogamy is rare among mammals, with only about 3% of mammal species forming pair bonds to rear their young.

Q: Why did monogamy evolve in humans?

Monogamy likely evolved in humans due to the need for females to have a partner's support in carrying and protecting their babies while living in dangerous open grasslands.

Q: Are humans the only species that practices monogamy?

While some animal species show monogamous behavior, humans are unique in the sense that monogamy is the predominant form of pair bonding worldwide.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Monogamy is derived from the words "mono" (meaning one) and "gamy" (meaning spouse), representing a pair bond between two individuals to rear children.

• Humans have evolved a dual reproductive strategy of forming long-term pair bonds for child-rearing and an inclination towards adulterous behavior.

• Monogamy likely evolved around 4.4 million years ago when our ancestors descended from trees and began to walk upright.