Do monogamous relationships conflict with human nature?

I realize this question will possibly "stir the pot" by making a few upset while possibly intriguing some others. I decided to do this particular blog after hearing about a rise in failed relationships due to infidelity. Is it natural for a person to remain true to one person forever or are we inadvertently fighting against human nature when we enter a one on one relationship?

Nah- monogamous relationships conflict with animal nature.

monogamy also exist in nature.

@kyrees: Not with most mammals it seems.

@mandarinestro:

it doesn't really matter. if creatures with lower brain capacity are capable of being monogamous, then there's no reason that monogamy is an aberrance, especially to humans.

As long as attractions to the other person remains ,monogamous relationships will be a thing.
It's all about instincs and sex.

@kyrees: Irrelevant. Mammals are more intelligent than other animals and thus are better evolved to survive, yet only 3% of mammals display monogamous behavior. If mammals are more likely to survive through polygamy then monogamy in humans is something else.

I have no issues with being devoted to 1 person.

Beata

Jmarshmallow

I need multiple ladies.

@mandarinestro: Humans don't have litters like most mammals, so monogamy might be better suited to defending the few children humans have (or at least should had before civilisation). Also, they grow slower than other mammals, so more indiviual parenting is needed in comparison to other mammals.

I don't think so. Isn't in our nature to make our own decisions and do what we want? If so, then being in a monogamous relationship doesn't really go against "human nature" since nobody is really forcing us to be in one, it's something we choose to do.

@mandarinestro:. mammals are in no better way to survive compared to insects, fishes or birds and their intelligence doesn't help their bodies adapt accordingly. there's also the fact that human babies have the longest vulnerable phase of development compared to any animal that humans had to develop society to accomodate that extremely long vulnerable phase.

the fact that lower brain capacity creatures choose monogamy is a way that nature deemed such thing as normal and the fact that it existed for the longest time for humans to observe is a testament on what nature set in place. survival through polygamy isn't even a sure-fire way for a species to endure that long especially if earth enters its extinction phases again or it encounters one of those dreaded species decimating factors like disease or new predators.

We're human, the ability to form relationships at such a level is what separates us from beasts.

a swan would beg to differ.

@kyrees: Who cares what a swan thinks :p

It depends on how old the couple is IMHO.

Humans aren't monogamous animals. We're social pack animals meant to engage with multiple partners to further our packs and add numbers for security.

Monogamous relationships are state sanctioned concepts humans made up when we became domesticated so that property could be better divided.

Depends on how you define/apply human nature. Humans are fairly complex as far as behavior, innate, learned, how they adapt and comfort, react, how they settle, how they strive. Also depends how you define conflict in this instance. Conflict in a relative sense? Depends on how you apply the term "do" as opposed to say "can" as in can it conflict? To what degree or circumstance can it? So on.

I say it could, but also no. Depends on the individual, what their priorities are, possibly where and when they lived, their environment and peers and society and their perceptions and knowledge. Those things being potentially important as far as shaping individuals nature and therefore potential for conflict as far as monogamous relationships.

Sounds like someone has been watching that show "Satisfaction"

Human nature has more than one natural desires and many of them conflict. Does a man naturally want to be monogamous? Probably not but he does probably want to have emotional intimacy and security which is something he will not get through random hookups.

I could give many more examples, but the point is that human nature could be used as case either for or against monogamy.

Also, it's worth noting that we can answer this simply by looking at what people have chosen to do with their lives. It's not like we are asking how life is on another planet we will never see. We can open our eyes and see that people have pursue both monogamy and polygamy.

Not human nature in general but possibly the nature of some specific humans.

I am not sure I believe in the idea of human nature as a blanket concept. Something like monogamy comes naturally to some, but not to others. Some people prefer to have many partners, and as long as all are consenting and aware I don't see a problem with that. that said, I am very much a monogamous girl :)

monogamous girl, I'm into you :P

*Cookie for anyone who can get the reference :P*

@kyrees:

As I have told you before, polygamy shown in animals with lower intelligence is irrelevant. Mammals have the greatest brain capacity for emotion compared to reptiles, birds, etc. and thus the decision to take on sexual partner/s are affected by things such as affection. Mate guarding also comes in but as I have said before also, only 3% of mammals practice monogamy.

Furthermore, there were/are human cultures which allow or maybe even encourage polygamy. So in conclusion, mankind's ability to propel themselves into great emotional states when feeling love have caused them to go against animalistic sexual desires, although some chose polygamy for a number of different factors.

Sorry if I bugged you after so long.

Depends on what you believe in.

For me it SHOULD be NOW.

@mandarinestro: brain capacity is not a factor for such choices because if it were one, monogamy would have been dead a long time ago. the fact that it still exist up to now suggest that it is hardwired to every creature in this planet. we were not even socially upgraded when we first appeared on this planet and yet the concept of monogamy lasted long enough that societies grew around it.

Well that's a buzzkill