The Strange History Behind Monogamy
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Date: 2025-12-23
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Comments and reviews: 19
weird_history
Humans are unique in that we vary person to person. Some people are lifelong monogamous, some are temporarily monogamous, some are serial monogamous. Some are bigamists, polyandrists, polygamous, polyamourous, some are free spirits. It's the one aspect other species don't have. It's like every human individual is its own species when it comes to mating habits.
Think about it, every species is highly specific with mating. Every member of the species is hardwired to be a certain way according to the species, while humans can choose.
People often ask what makes humans special over any other living thing:
A very complex language (Not just simple communication)
Very complex technology and tools (Not just simple tools)
Variable mating habits individual to individual (Not just one species wide)
And as far as we know: Philosophy, Religion, etc.
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Humans are unique in that we vary person to person. Some people are lifelong monogamous, some are temporarily monogamous, some are serial monogamous. Some are bigamists, polyandrists, polygamous, polyamourous, some are free spirits. It's the one aspect other species don't have. It's like every human individual is its own species when it comes to mating habits.
Think about it, every species is highly specific with mating. Every member of the species is hardwired to be a certain way according to the species, while humans can choose.
People often ask what makes humans special over any other living thing:
A very complex language (Not just simple communication)
Very complex technology and tools (Not just simple tools)
Variable mating habits individual to individual (Not just one species wide)
And as far as we know: Philosophy, Religion, etc.
reply
alexhaladay4345
I had a conversation with my brother like 2 days ago, Why should I get married Im not christian, religious, or believe in rituals. So the idea of the actual act of marriage seems pointless to me. Why go through a christian ritual that is modern idea of marriage in USA when I'm not a christian I don't need a ring on my finger to be faithful and hope to be with someone that doesn't need a ring or ritual to be with just me.
I don't find weddings romantic, I find them consumerist. Its a ritual for other people, not for you and your partner. Its a ritual that society says you must do and spend money doing. 2 months salary for an engagement ring You know who created that idea DeBeers, the diamond cartel to sell more diamonds.
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I had a conversation with my brother like 2 days ago, Why should I get married Im not christian, religious, or believe in rituals. So the idea of the actual act of marriage seems pointless to me. Why go through a christian ritual that is modern idea of marriage in USA when I'm not a christian I don't need a ring on my finger to be faithful and hope to be with someone that doesn't need a ring or ritual to be with just me.
I don't find weddings romantic, I find them consumerist. Its a ritual for other people, not for you and your partner. Its a ritual that society says you must do and spend money doing. 2 months salary for an engagement ring You know who created that idea DeBeers, the diamond cartel to sell more diamonds.
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Thenogomogo-zo3un
Truth is, we just take it when we get the chance. We also can really find someone attractive that we want forever and just become devoted to them and fall in love. Very rarely do we get that opportunity to fufil that dream, more often that person is unavailable. The longer our life expectancy gets the less a monogamous relationship becomes the norm. Being young and good looking is at a premium now, even if we are only that for a fraction of our lives. Having many wives, concubines or a harem was a luxury for only the very rich. Poor people were monogamous for financial reasons not for any romantic purpose.
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Truth is, we just take it when we get the chance. We also can really find someone attractive that we want forever and just become devoted to them and fall in love. Very rarely do we get that opportunity to fufil that dream, more often that person is unavailable. The longer our life expectancy gets the less a monogamous relationship becomes the norm. Being young and good looking is at a premium now, even if we are only that for a fraction of our lives. Having many wives, concubines or a harem was a luxury for only the very rich. Poor people were monogamous for financial reasons not for any romantic purpose.
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ryateo1
Monogamy is a result based on needs created when hunter-gathering ended.
Monogamy is needed to sustain a progressive agricultural culture. The skills and education must be passed generationally. And you cannot do that in a serfdom culture or with nomads.
Agriculture and monogamy are literally the things that separated us from the animal Kingdom 100, 000 years ago.
They have even discovered camps in Germany were nomads had switched to praying on cultures with agriculture and monogamy to survive.
Any culture that doesn't value monogamy is doomed to collapse, or will never start to begin with.
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Monogamy is a result based on needs created when hunter-gathering ended.
Monogamy is needed to sustain a progressive agricultural culture. The skills and education must be passed generationally. And you cannot do that in a serfdom culture or with nomads.
Agriculture and monogamy are literally the things that separated us from the animal Kingdom 100, 000 years ago.
They have even discovered camps in Germany were nomads had switched to praying on cultures with agriculture and monogamy to survive.
Any culture that doesn't value monogamy is doomed to collapse, or will never start to begin with.
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michaelryan2416
Service dogs can be useful unfortunately people exploit the privilege and take their pets with them into places where they shouldn’t be allowed. I can buy a red vest on line to put n a random dog and claim that the dog is a medical necessity. There should be regulations or people will go to far
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Service dogs can be useful unfortunately people exploit the privilege and take their pets with them into places where they shouldn’t be allowed. I can buy a red vest on line to put n a random dog and claim that the dog is a medical necessity. There should be regulations or people will go to far
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ForgottenLoreVault
Watching until the very end, the fringe hypothesis mentioned at 12: 55 about toxoplasmosis influencing human bonding is absolutely wild. It suggests that our 'free will' in relationships might just be biological puppetry by parasites. That is a terrifying piece of forgotten biology right there.
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Watching until the very end, the fringe hypothesis mentioned at 12: 55 about toxoplasmosis influencing human bonding is absolutely wild. It suggests that our 'free will' in relationships might just be biological puppetry by parasites. That is a terrifying piece of forgotten biology right there.
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ellasgarden3
Yeah, considering how many people cheat, I don't think monogamy was ever real, just a fairytale. For the people who say that they could only be with their spouse, well that is the exception more than the rule. Also, are you 100% sure your spouse feels the same Sad but true.
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Yeah, considering how many people cheat, I don't think monogamy was ever real, just a fairytale. For the people who say that they could only be with their spouse, well that is the exception more than the rule. Also, are you 100% sure your spouse feels the same Sad but true.
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weird_history
lol at the downvotes. Probably comes from the same people that instantly throw insults and talk shit about people in open relationships. Then turn around and start a bunch of drama because they have jealousy issues and just can't understand not every one is that pathetic.
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lol at the downvotes. Probably comes from the same people that instantly throw insults and talk shit about people in open relationships. Then turn around and start a bunch of drama because they have jealousy issues and just can't understand not every one is that pathetic.
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qwertyuiop1st
There are lots of reasons for monogamy to be a particularly practical and fulfilling way to operationalize my desire to have as many lovers as possible. It may just be one person, but with the right person the quality of the situation simply cannot be beat.
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There are lots of reasons for monogamy to be a particularly practical and fulfilling way to operationalize my desire to have as many lovers as possible. It may just be one person, but with the right person the quality of the situation simply cannot be beat.
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herstappen
I don't have issues with the concept of humans being non-monogamous. I do have issues with it being acceptable for males to cheat and the women being stuck with the children without proper support and compensation
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I don't have issues with the concept of humans being non-monogamous. I do have issues with it being acceptable for males to cheat and the women being stuck with the children without proper support and compensation
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richardprice-l5b
What about all the human cultures that until relatively recently and even still today are non monogamous, such as religions that allow multiple wives or polyamory. that would seem to rebut this analysis.
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What about all the human cultures that until relatively recently and even still today are non monogamous, such as religions that allow multiple wives or polyamory. that would seem to rebut this analysis.
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btetschner
Having ANOTHER Weird History drink!
Drinking Hot Apple Cider. while watching this Weird History video!
There are a lot of videos about drinks!
It's so incredible!
reply
Having ANOTHER Weird History drink!
Drinking Hot Apple Cider. while watching this Weird History video!
There are a lot of videos about drinks!
It's so incredible!
reply
joefarrow487
When humans moved onto farms women jumped into safety with the best farmer. Then they murdered each others children so their child would get the farm.
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When humans moved onto farms women jumped into safety with the best farmer. Then they murdered each others children so their child would get the farm.
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edvaira6891
Nah! I actually managed to find someone I really liked! haven’t changed my mind in 38 years! Never felt selfish enough to break her heart
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Nah! I actually managed to find someone I really liked! haven’t changed my mind in 38 years! Never felt selfish enough to break her heart
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negativeindustrial
There are PLENTY of monogamous animals. Just because bonobos are the swingers of the animal kingdom doesn’t mean we have to be.
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There are PLENTY of monogamous animals. Just because bonobos are the swingers of the animal kingdom doesn’t mean we have to be.
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robertlong56
I\nTried to watch this video, but the commercials started one minute and two seconds in and it's that way because you're a parasite
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I\nTried to watch this video, but the commercials started one minute and two seconds in and it's that way because you're a parasite
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pipe2devnull
I've long thought that marriage was necessary for the rich to consolidate land and wealth. Not so rich people seek to emulate them.
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I've long thought that marriage was necessary for the rich to consolidate land and wealth. Not so rich people seek to emulate them.
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testmcgee9230
My buddy's ex-wife is a college educated professional but somehow was unaware of or could never grasp the concept of monogamy.
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My buddy's ex-wife is a college educated professional but somehow was unaware of or could never grasp the concept of monogamy.
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GEOTHERMALHEAT0
I definitely feel like having one gf is like having non at alleven when I'm hyper focus on myself and my own work
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I definitely feel like having one gf is like having non at alleven when I'm hyper focus on myself and my own work
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