The question of whether people are polygamous or monogamous is one of the questions that comes up all the time. So what is the answer to this memorized question? Do you have a definite answer? Let’s see together.
The basic motivation of the human species, like many living things in nature. ‘breeding’ and ‘surviving’ we can say. Of course, as our species now most classically describes itself as an ‘advanced’ species, it has expanded its reproductive and survival behaviors through various activities, adding individual ‘purposes’ and ‘targets’ to the list. So he convinced himself that he was different from animals.
However, the fact that there are different polygamous and monogamous creatures in nature, and that humans have not always been monogamous throughout their evolution, made modern humans ask the same question: Are people really monogamous or polygamous? Scientific studies on this subject over the years have answered this question. Unfortunately, there is no single answer.. Well, let’s see how this happens.
Are people monogamous?
Monogamy, in its simplest definition, is used for creatures that have sex and reproduce with only one person. This definition alone is enough to show that people are not actually monogamous. Because we know that humans can have sex with more than one partner and reproduce.
When the mammal species existing in nature are examined, Of the 5,000 or so species, only 3% It has been observed that he is ‘monogamous’. In other words, humans are not alone in this regard in the class of mammals they belong to.
But monogamy does not exist in one form in nature. Apart from the simple definition we made above, different types of monogamy It can differ before and after mating and even according to gender. For example, in some mammalian species, only males are monogamous, while females can be polygamous. Or vice versa.
Likewise, while some animals mate with more than one mate and produce offspring, they can be with a single mate and look after all the offspring with that mate. Different scenarios like this, being sexually and socially monogamous/polygamous revealing the concepts. In this case, mating with more than one partner, taking care of the offspring with a single partner and living with a single partner means being sexually polygamous and socially monogamous.
People are polygamous then, right?
Polygamy means having sex and procreation with multiple partners. However, people, unfortunately, are not fully included in this class. Because, especially at the point we have reached socially and culturally, this scenario creates a very ‘unapproved’ situation in many societies. Many people’s lives choosing a partner, having sex with him and breeding and that makes them monogamous.
And that’s not the only thing that shows we’re not polygamous. Generally There is a noticeable difference between male and female in polygamous creatures.. Because males develop some features that they will ‘display’ in themselves in order to be selected by the female in the current competitive environment. Like the fascinating and colorful plumage of male peacocks… However, these ‘differences’ in humans are not as big a difference as in other mammals, and studies show that humans differ from other polygamous animals in this aspect as well. In other words, there are some obstacles in front of us calling our species polygamous.
Since social and cultural influences are included in the work and it is not possible to reject these influences, instead of calling people monogamous or polygamous it should be evaluated according to the scenario in question.
So why have we, as humanity, chosen a monogamous life over the years?
The reason why human evolution has become so complex when it comes to reproduction and mate selection is of course being investigated. Scientists think that ‘human offspring’ are one of the reasons why humans chose to choose a single mate over time and move forward with it. because human infant development among babies that last the longest and are the latest to be able to take care of themselves. However, mothers to raise babies He may be looking for a stable partner who will be there all the time and raise the baby with him.
Also, that women to discourage men from killing babies they suspect are not theirs It is thought that there may be a strategy they have developed.
Source 1, Source 2, Source 3
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