Monogamy is the practice of having only one partner at a time, and takes different forms in humans and animals. It is generally preferred in human societies, with social and sexual monogamy being common. Genetics and social benefits play a role in monogamous relationships, and it has historically been important for inheritance and patrimonial lineage.
Monogamy is a practice characterized by having only one partner at any given time, in contrast to polygamy, where people may have multiple partners. This practice takes a number of different forms in the human and animal world, and in the early 2000s, some significant scientific studies changed the way people thought about monogamy. Among humans, it is generally believed that having only one partner is preferable and desirable, although there are some communities where this is not necessarily the norm.
In true sexual monogamy, people have sex with only one other person. This can be for life, or it can be in the form of serial relationships, with people moving through a series of sexually exclusive relationships. Having only one sexual partner is believed to be an important part of marriage in many cultures, and having sex with people outside of marriage can be grounds for divorce or breaking up a relationship.
Social monogamy involves forging a connection with someone to share resources, engage in sexual activity, and raise children together. It also often implies sexual exclusivity, but this is not always the case. Social monogamy is not unique to humans; many bird species previously thought to be sexually monogamous have since been found to be socially monogamous. They form attachments with mates, but may have sex with other birds. In some cases, they also bring young with these external partners.
There are various biological and social benefits of having only one partner for some species that play a role in whether species as a whole opt for monogamous relationships or other types of arrangements. Genetics also appear to play a role. In species with a long history of monogamy, genes appear to code for rewards for organisms that form long-lasting, exclusive bonds with only one other organism. In these organisms, neurotransmitters that stimulate reward areas of the brain are emitted during interactions, especially close physical ones, with monogamous partners.
Historically, the belief that people should have only one sexual partner at a time has played an important role in many human societies. It is common for inheritance rules to follow patrimonial lineage, and in many cultures monogamy particularly among women was held to be of great importance so that men could be assured that any children in their marriages were theirs. The valorisation of monogamy has also contributed to the social attitudes surrounding marriage and other types of human relationships. Humans also appear to be among the species that have some genetic predisposition to monogamy.
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