Bring monogamy back!

Monogamy will always exist in some form. Even if humans are part of the animal kingdom and naturally inclined to have different mates and propagate the earth, they will still pair off for longer periods with certain people. And while “…serial monogamy is tantamount to polygyny” it is still a form of monogamy (288). But an incredibly skewed form… Evolutionary psychologists believe that “…it is “natural” for both men and women- at some times, under some circumstances- to commit adultery or to sour on a mate, to suddenly find a spouse unattractive, irritating, wholly unreasonable” (280). Serial monogamy is basically the new monogamy. People date someone for years but then break up or married couples are together forever and then suddenly divorce. Eventually they all find new mates. And so continues the cycle. They are faithful to that one person for a long time but then something causes them to end their relationship. “…evolutionary psychology shows how inhospitable the current social environment is to monogamy” (280)

Are we to blame or is mother nature to blame? Is polygyny in our genes, and why? “The human mind, like any other organ, was designed for the purpose of transmitting genes to the next generation” (280). Basically, polygyny is in our genes. It helps us carry on those genes. If a mate is unable to provide for his mate and children, or unable to produce children, then the genes die out. We exist to carry on the species and this is ingrained into us like nothing else. So if monogamy is not working out, it is ended and the mates move on.

Today things are not quite so dependent on propagation because there is plenty of that going on. There is actually a surplus of people in the world and it’s getting a little crowded. Seems like everyone is doing a pretty good job with carrying on the species. And yet serial monogamy still seems to be the trend. Maybe it isn’t all about propagation after all. What is it then? Are we just naturally inclined to move from one partner to the next, or to cheat on our current partner?

“Evolutionary psychology illuminates the tremendous flexibility of the human mind and the powerful role of environment in shaping behavior” (280). But that is no reason that we can’t be faithful. We have the most mental capacity of all other creatures. Surely we can use that to rise above our primitive urges. Don’t we say our morals and ability to reason set us apart from animals? If only we could be unselfish and use our own advice to bring back real monogamy so that men and women no longer have to make each other miserable.