Monogamy

[Lightkeeper]

Some animals are monogamous and mate for life? Are humans monogamous or is monogamy a forced religious state?

 

[Bastet]

I think it depends on the human involved lol. In my case, religion and monogamy have squat to do with each other. I don't do religion, but I do monogamy. I simply don't have a desire for more than one partner (sexual or otherwise), in my life at any one time.

 

[fromthe heart]

Some animals are monogamous and mate for life? Are humans monogamous or is monogamy a forced religious state?

I don't think all humans are monogamus...I think some are like cows...always breaking that barbed wire fence for the greener grass...some are like goats...they'll do anything...some are like butterfly's they flit and fly all around.

Fortunately there are a few who seem to mate for life to give us a more dominate position in life. I've seen that those who have mated for life will grieve themselves to death at the loss of their mate.

 

[Druidus]

Biologically, we are most likely not monogamous. Almost every monogamous species exist with the male and female being of approximate weight and height. Species that take multiple mates almost always exist with one, either male or female, of the sexes being larger then the other. The larger one usually takes more mates. Thus, because males tend to be larger then females, in terms of humans, it is unlikely that we are monogamous. However, I'm not suggesting males should take more mates, or that women are inferior. Do what you want! Take as many, or as little, mates as you want! It's up to you! :jiggy:

 

[Bastet]

LOL thanks, Dru...nice to know I've got your permission to be monogamous.

 

[Quoth The Raven]

The average length of a marriage in Australia (where 46% of marriages end in divorce) is 8.3 years...a lot of these people go on to get married again...
and in some cases, again...
judging by which, serial monogamy is probably the most normal for a lot of people. I agree though,that really it depends on the person to a large extent.

 

[Quoth The Raven]

LOL thanks, Dru...nice to know I've got your permission to be monogamous.

Or, in fact, to be a trollop if that is your desire:woohoo: .

 

[Sunstone]

Those are interesting points, Druidus, but you might not be aware that in humans there are morphological structures which indicate that both sexes, not just males, have evolved to have multiple partners.

 

[Bastet]

Serial monogamy...that's what I was trying to think of earlier.

 

[Sunstone]

I myself have been guilty of committing serial monogamy. Premeditated serial monogamy. And I'm proud of it.

 

[Druidus]

LOL thanks, Dru...nice to know I've got your permission to be monogamous.

Or, in fact, to be a trollop if that is your desire:woohoo: .

What would you do without my permission?

Those are interesting points, Druidus, but you might not be aware that in humans there are morphological structures which indicate that both sexes, not just males, have evolved to have multiple partners.

Oh, by no means do I oppose that. All great apes take multiple mates, most notably the bonobo (look up "Bonobo, Sexual Habits ). If human society was more like the bonobo's we would have a much more peaceful time of it. However, for curiousity's sake, what are these adaptations?

 

[Quoth The Raven]

I myself have been guilty of committing serial monogamy.

And the defence rests...

 

[Bastet]

What would you do without my permission?

I'll never tell...

 

[Sunstone]

Oh, by no means do I oppose that. All great apes take multiple mates, most notably the bonobo (look up "Bonobo, Sexual Habits ). If human society was more like the bonobo's we would have a much more peaceful time of it. However, for curiousity's sake, what are these adaptations?

One of the more interesting has to do with testicle size and quantity of sperm generated. In male apes that have monogamous mates (e.g. the gorilla) the size of the testicles are relatively small. In male apes whose mates are not monogamous, the size of the testicles increase. The bonobo has the largest testicle size to body weight of all apes, but humans are not far behind the bonobo. Some biologists estimate that the size of human testicles indicates that human females typically had 1-3 partners over the course of our evolution. That figure of 1-3 compares with the evidence which suggests that human males typically had 2-3 partners over the course of our evolution (in order for the sexual dimorphism evident in our species to have evolved.)

BTW, I agree that if human society was like the bonobo, we would be a "make love not war" species.

 

[Quoth The Raven]

I'll never tell...

PM Me people...I'll tell all her secrets!

(what I don't know, I'll make up!)

 

[Druidus]

One of the more interesting has to do with testicle size and quantity of sperm generated. In male apes that have monogamous mates (e.g. the gorilla) the size of the testicles are relatively small. In male apes whose mates are not monogamous, the size of the testicles increase. The bonobo has the largest testicle size to body weight of all apes, but humans are not far behind the bonobo. Some biologists estimate that the size of human testicles indicates that human females typically had 1-3 partners over the course of our evolution. That figure of 1-3 compares with the evidence which suggests that human males typically had 2-3 partners over the course of our evolution (in order for the sexual dimorphism evident in our species to have evolved.)

Ahhh, I should have guessed it! lol You are right though. I've seen pictures of bonobos, and their testicles are much larger than ours, though. Are we really close behind them? Their testicular sac (proper terminology?) was bigger than a softball!

 

[Sunstone]

I recall having read that in terms of testicle weight to body weight, we are next in line behind the bonobo among the great apes. I'm glad, however, that we are a relatively distant next in line --- can you imagine, Druidus, how difficult it would be to walk around in clothing with a testicular sac the size of a bonobo's?

 

[Bastet]

I'm thinking you'd walk with your legs bent and further apart, your body would be a bit more on the heavyset side to carry the extra weight, and you'd be walking a little hunched over, knuckles dragging on the ground...

 

[Lightkeeper]

I'm thinking you'd walk with your legs bent and further apart, your body would be a bit more on the heavyset side to carry the extra weight, and you'd be walking a little hunched over, knuckles dragging on the ground...

An that's why you are monogamous, not too many would be interested.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Are humans monogamous or is monogamy a forced religious state?

This seems like a false dichotomy. Most humans are monogamous in monogamous societies.