Is monogamy real?

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Scenic
@Scenic
13 Years5,000+ Posts

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"Some scientists view both social and sexual monogamy in humans as a societal structure rather than a natural state.

"I don't think we are a monogamous animal," said Pepper Schwartz, a professor of sociology at the University of Washington in Seattle. "A really monogamous animal is a goose — which never mates again even if its mate is killed."

She added, "Monogamy is invented for order and investment — but not necessarily because it's 'natural.'"

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"I do not believe that humans are biologically sexually monogamous. In most species that biologists consider monogamous, there is also cheating. Cheating can increase fitness by increasing the number of offspring for males, or by diversifying the genetics of the offspring for females."

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These are quotes I took from the first two links I clicked on. I agree with them. I think monogamy is something humans created so that we could socially conform to the idea of helping children with both parents in place. Most animals are not like this. In most species, the fathers don't even stay around. Only 5% of animals are monogamous.

Even in monkeys, monogamy is rare. There have been studies that suggest that some monkeys are able to be monogamous, but those involve a weaker male monkey who cannot gain too many mates because of it's status. Of course, there are some species of monkeys that are mostly monogamous, but once again, very few.

In the end, this leads to me believe that monogamy in humans was created and is not natural to our species. Though, perhaps with how we have evolved, it's best to stay monogamous even if it's hard on the couple, like when a child is involved.
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WaterCup
@WaterCup
14 Years10,000+ Posts

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I think it's as real as you want it to be, almost like God. Some believe in HIM & some don't. But those that do believe in HIM he is real to them.

Btw, I think science takes all the fun out of life with them always disputing & prooving shit. Some of us do love the unkown, the delusions or whatever you may want to call them. They should just stick to finding cures 😛
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SelenaKyle
@justagirl
12 Years25,000+ Posts

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penguins mate for life, as do lobsters and bald eagles.

So it's not just humans 🙂

http://www.thefreeresource.com/what-animals-practice-monogamy-and-mate-for-life<BR>
list from another site:

There are plenty of examples. Just to name a few:
??Gibbon apes
??wolves
??termites
??coyotes
??barn owls
??beavers
??bald eagles
??golden eagles
??condors
??swans
??brolga cranes
??French angel fish
??sandhill cranes
??pigeons
??prions
??red-tailed hawks
??anglerfish
??ospreys
??prairie voles
??black vultures

Dam, black vultures will attack and sometimes kill a mate that's unfaithful..Ekk

http://www.petsadviser.com/behaviors/a-list-of-animals-that-mate-for-life/<BR>