We all seem to assume this is the case, as do many religions. I, for one, find it hard to swallow though (no pun intended). I suspect that the whole idea of monogamy stems from the desire to know for certain whose offspring one is raising. In times past, that was vitally important to insure that land and titles were kept to the correct bloodlines, but...

What do you think?

I'm all for a good romp here and there, but I think monogomy is built into us. It's just become jacked as we've tacked other things on to our nature. It's hard for me to explain at work, but I know monogomy is in animals who don't have the "benefit" of religion.

I think we're clearly NOT inherently monogamous. Perhaps for coupling purposes, like rearing children, getting tax breaks, emotional security, etc. it's something we've engineered for ourselves, but historically marriage did not and still does not ensure physical fidelity. If physical fidelity to one person were hard-wired into us, I think we wouldn't see nearly the divorce rates we do, nor all the counseling, religious dogma and energy, etc. directed at the issue. Then there are the millions of people worldwide who are in polygamous relationships or marriages (usually patriarchal)...so no. I think monogamy has its perks and benefits, but I think it's a struggle for most people.

I've read social biological theories that men are hard-wired to be promiscuous, because the species (back in the day) was more likely to spread and thrive with multiple partners. Women can only give birth to one set of young at a time, but men, built to travel, can have virtually unlimited progeny.

The theory doesn't forgive cheating, by the way, it just says that part of being civilized is clamping down on some of our less desirable biological urges. It also talked about the biology of "chemistry" that attracts us, holds us for a couple of years to mate, then at the "7 yr itch" period, not only wears off but points us in different directions.

I would generally agree with your assessment. I would also agree that the male tendency toward monogamy is tenuous at best. I like to view such questions in the light of objective and practical reasons that things are as they are. Could it be that partnered parenting is the optimum condition for humans, simply because human offspring are generally incapable of independent living for a much longer time than most of our mammal peers?