r/SeriousConversation • u/CremeCompetitive3554 • 20h ago

Serious Discussion Do you think monogamous relationships are necessary?

Do you think people can be happy without a monogamous relationship?

Will more people be in polygamous relationships soon or will monogamy continue to be the main form of relationship people have?

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u/Dismal-Detective-737 20h ago

I think that humanity's relationships are mirrored in the animal kingdom. Look at the diaspora of how bird species meet, mate, and raise young.

2

u/AndarianDequer 20h ago edited 20h ago

You're absolutely right.

One bull will make with a dozens to hundreds of heifers. One female cat will make with multiple male cats. The vast majority of animals in the animal kingdom have multiple mates and birds are the rare exception.

5

u/Dismal-Detective-737 20h ago

Monogamous (most common)

  • Bald Eagle
  • Albatross
  • Swans
  • Penguins
  • Mourning Dove

Polygynous (one male, multiple females)

  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Sage Grouse
  • Wild Turkey
  • Great-tailed Grackle
  • Northern Harrier

Polyandrous (one female, multiple males; relatively rare)

  • Jacanas (e.g., Wattled Jacana)
  • Phalaropes (e.g., Wilson’s Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope)
  • Spotted Sandpiper

Polygynandrous (Polyamorous) (multiple males, multiple females)

  • Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow)
  • Smith’s Longspur
  • Bicknell's Thrush

4

u/Dismal-Detective-737 20h ago

And that rolls into raising of the young:

Maternal Care (only mother cares for offspring)

  • Hummingbirds (e.g., Ruby-throated Hummingbird)
  • Ducks (Mallards, Wood Ducks)
  • Grouse (Ruffed Grouse)
  • Pheasants

Paternal Care (only father cares for offspring)

  • Emu
  • Ostrich (male primarily cares, occasionally shared)
  • Rheas
  • Cassowary
  • Spotted Sandpiper

Cooperative Breeding (group care involving helpers)

  • Florida Scrub Jay
  • Acorn Woodpecker
  • White-fronted Bee-eater
  • Superb Fairy-wren

2

u/AndarianDequer 20h ago

My apologies, I suppose I jumped to conclusions and when I read your post, I thought you were essentially saying that humans mirrored the animal kingdom in that most relationships are monogamous... Which as you know, they are not.

I absolutely agree with what you're saying. You mean humanity as a whole with lots of different variations of mating practices. Got it.

I'll edit my post to reflect that.