As humans, do you think we are naturally monogamous or polygamous?

Answer 1

Truthfully????
POLGAMOUS
Where my Dads from in Africa he can take several wives.

Look at the divorce stats... And that doesn't even really reflect the number of people who 'cheat'.

Naturally? Polygamous 4 sure x

Answer 2

Anthropologically speaking, primates are usually polygamous. Chimpanzees and bonobos are fairly indescriminate; gender not even being a factor. They often use sex for just about anything, from negociations to appologies.

Gorillas are polygynous, meaning that one male will have many females, much like lions. And orang-utans are solitary, meeting only to procreate.

I believe that for humans, polygamy and monogamy are cultural. Most people in the US practice serial monogamy; often they have only one partner at a time, but they don't keep the same one for life. In other countries (and even this one), one man will take multiple partners, whether it is legal or not. Only in Tibet am I aware of women taking multiple men.

I have often wondered how people would take mates should laws dictating marriage be repealed. I believe the Fundimentalist Christians would hem and haw, and take only one spouse. For the rest of American society, I believe, serial monogamy would predominate; after all, we all know how people react when they catch tehir spouse cheating! Only a small minority, I believe, would be polygamous.

Answer 3

as with any other perpetuating species, we have the unquenchable need to see ourselves( our genetic materiel) continue.
males are built not to be monogamous. they have the ability to produce sperm thus produce offspring late into life with out having any down time ( pregnancy) they are stimulated mostly by visuals, and have the deep seeded need to create and protect a " herd", at the simplest sociological and biological level this would insure that his "genes" would continue . where as females are built and programed to seek out the male who will be able to produce strong offspring, provide protection for he offspring and the female from other males. females naturally " herd" from a young age and especially after having children, where they can learn mothering techniques and provide emotional support. we are much quicker to forgive our girlfriends then a boyfriend.
If we'd quit fighting against whats already built in or at least be more receptive to these built In's, we as humans in relationships could be so much more happy.

Answer 4

i think this is a tricky question...I think as a universal rule, women are monogamous, so they will know who the father of their children will be; and men, inorder to spread their seed and guarantee genetic survival, are more polygamous...
However, there are cultural practices and accepted sociatial norms that ultimately rule what is done in different places

Answer 5

I believe we are naturally monogamous... but naturally reflects the norms or majority not the totality

Answer 6

Depends on the human. For a less stressful life, be sure you long term partners share the same belief.

Answer 7

Both!
Women play away quite a bit, but not as much as men.

Though we are far from alone in the animal kingdom. XD

Answer 8

Higamous, hogamous,
Hippos are monogamous
Humans are polygamous

Answer 9

are parrots polygamous? :)

Answer 10

bit of both