Whether monogamy is an innate human behavior remains contested, as researchers debate the extent to which human pair-bonding is driven by evolutionary neurobiology versus cultural flexibility and environmental adaptation.
Evidence for · 2
The Evolution of Social Monogamy in Mammals
2013 · cited by 687
This study demonstrates that social monogamy has deep evolutionary roots in mammals as a derived mating strategy under specific ecological constraints.
Evidence against · 4
Monogamy, strongly bonded groups, and the evolution of human social structure
2013 · cited by 251
This paper notes that human social structures—including mating and marriage systems—are shaped by flexible cultural evolution and varied kinship systems rather than a fixed instinct.
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More for · 1
The Neurobiology of Love and Pair Bonding from Human and Animal Perspectives
2023 · cited by 58
This research highlights conserved neurobiological mechanisms, such as oxytocin and dopamine pathways, that underlie pair-bonding and mate attachment across species including humans.
More against · 3
Re‐Evaluating Primate Monogamy
1998 · cited by 128
This review highlights that most primates, including humans, do not live exclusively in nuclear families or display a single fixed monogamous mating pattern.
Evolved but Not Fixed: A Life History Account of Gender Roles and Gender Inequality
2019 · cited by 126
This study argues that human marital systems and gender relations are highly flexible, changeable, and heavily influenced by the interaction between ecological and social environments.
Monogamy: Mating Strategies and Partnerships in Birds, Humans and Other Mammals
2004 · cited by 122
This book discusses how human monogamy is deeply confounded with cultural aspects and marriage customs, leaving open the question of whether it shares the same direct biological drivers as in other mammals.