Monogamy might not be in human biology
Alexndra Duszak
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News
It is no secret that a large percentage of college students do not want to be tied down to a significant other. Many take a sort of "hit-and-run" approach in their encounters with the opposite sex, preferring quantity over quality and eschewing monogamy.
In light of recent research, the co-ed approach to relationships may not be as unusual as parents and grandparents might have their children believe. A recent article from LiveScience.com suggests humans are not meant to be monogamous.
Jane Lancaster, evolutionary anthropologist at the University of New Mexico, said humans are in committed relationships mainly for the purpose of raising children.
"Many monogamous marriages are not sexually monogamous but they represent the commitment of men and women to raise children together," Lancaster said. "In dating relationships and in living-together relationships, they [humans] may be superficially monogamous."
When children are not involved, there is nothing beyond a mutual commitment between those involved in the relationship to ensure their fidelity, she said.
Jean-Phillipe Laurenceau, associate professor of psychology at the university, said humans often choose the socially acceptable alternative to their animal instincts.
"It's our frontal lobes that help us put off our needs for instant gratification," Laurenceau said. "Ultimately, if you want to have a successful relationship, you're going to have to make a decision that maintaining a particular relationship is more important than the freedom that comes with having sex with whomever you want whenever it happens to be available."
Despite the apparent human tendency to stray, there is no reason to live in constant fear of significant others being unfaithful, he said.
Considering some students spend at least part of their weekends partying, the college environment is not necessarily conducive to maintaining a relationship with only one individual. In addition, the high volume of new people college students encounter may explain why many are often reluctant to engage in sexually monogamous relationships, according to some students.
In light of recent research, the co-ed approach to relationships may not be as unusual as parents and grandparents might have their children believe. A recent article from LiveScience.com suggests humans are not meant to be monogamous.
Jane Lancaster, evolutionary anthropologist at the University of New Mexico, said humans are in committed relationships mainly for the purpose of raising children.
"Many monogamous marriages are not sexually monogamous but they represent the commitment of men and women to raise children together," Lancaster said. "In dating relationships and in living-together relationships, they [humans] may be superficially monogamous."
When children are not involved, there is nothing beyond a mutual commitment between those involved in the relationship to ensure their fidelity, she said.
Jean-Phillipe Laurenceau, associate professor of psychology at the university, said humans often choose the socially acceptable alternative to their animal instincts.
"It's our frontal lobes that help us put off our needs for instant gratification," Laurenceau said. "Ultimately, if you want to have a successful relationship, you're going to have to make a decision that maintaining a particular relationship is more important than the freedom that comes with having sex with whomever you want whenever it happens to be available."
Despite the apparent human tendency to stray, there is no reason to live in constant fear of significant others being unfaithful, he said.
Considering some students spend at least part of their weekends partying, the college environment is not necessarily conducive to maintaining a relationship with only one individual. In addition, the high volume of new people college students encounter may explain why many are often reluctant to engage in sexually monogamous relationships, according to some students.
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