<p>First off, I think monogamy is a <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/are-humans-naturally-monogamous-or-polygamous-1.3643373" rel="nofollow noreferrer">socially and culturally determined construct</a> in man. </p>

<p>In the animal world both monogamy and polygamy are encountered. Monogamy increases the chance of the survival of individual offspring, as dad can help raising the offspring  and can defend the family. This increases fitness.</p>

<p>On the on the other hand, polygamy increases the spread of the (male) genes and hence increases the chance that the male gene pool is spread. </p>

<p>The relative benefits of both strategies depends on many factors, including resource availability, offspring need, parental care, and mating dynamics <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2018.00030/full" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Klug, 2018)</a>. </p>

<p><sub><strong>Reference</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2018.00030/full" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Klug, <em>Front Ecol Evol</em> (2018); 2018.00030</a></sub></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-30T16:12:37.930Z
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been [moved to chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/96821/discussion-on-answer-by-aliced-what-are-the-reasons-behind-monogamy-in-humans).
Arnon Weinberg
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-26T13:37:44.577Z
2019-07-27T20:35:05.180Z
2019-07-27T20:35:05.180Z
AliceD
<p>What makes human being in anger or in mental pain once his/her partner leaves? If you think logically we can replace our partner with a new one or if alone also doesn't make any difference. </p>

<p>From another perspective a person having multiple partner increases the chance of having better and more offspring, so by evolution this should be a happy emotion than a sad one. </p>

<p>So my question is why is infidelity bad and not a good thing. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-30T13:28:27.907Z
I agree with @AliceD and other that this is a tough question and the scope of the question is way to broad.  Without being able to experience or observe genuine polygamous relationships (in my case) or have a person with polygamous experience gain deep insight to monogamy with some background psychological knowledge of the individuals involved this question probably is not answerable.  Instead of bad answers perhaps it should be closed?
Adam Heeg
<emotion><genetics>
What are the reasons behind monogamy in humans?
Arun Killu
# What are the reasons behind monogamy in humans?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-26)

What makes human being in anger or in mental pain once his/her partner leaves? If you think logically we can replace our partner with a new one or if alone also doesn't make any difference.

From another perspective a person having multiple partner increases the chance of having better and more offspring, so by evolution this should be a happy emotion than a sad one.

So my question is why is infidelity bad and not a good thing.

**Tags:** emotion, genetics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I agree with @username_2 and other that this is a tough question and the scope of the question is way to broad.  Without being able to experience or observe genuine polygamous relationships (in my case) or have a person with polygamous experience gain deep insight to monogamy with some background psychological knowledge of the individuals involved this question probably is not answerable.  Instead of bad answers perhaps it should be closed?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-07-26. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

First off, I think monogamy is a [socially and culturally determined construct](https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/are-humans-naturally-monogamous-or-polygamous-1.3643373) in man.

In the animal world both monogamy and polygamy are encountered. Monogamy increases the chance of the survival of individual offspring, as dad can help raising the offspring and can defend the family. This increases fitness.

On the on the other hand, polygamy increases the spread of the (male) genes and hence increases the chance that the male gene pool is spread.

The relative benefits of both strategies depends on many factors, including resource availability, offspring need, parental care, and mating dynamics [(Klug, 2018)](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2018.00030/full).

**Reference**  
**-** [Klug, *Front Ecol Evol* (2018); 2018.00030](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2018.00030/full)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been [moved to chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/96821/discussion-on-answer-by-aliced-what-are-the-reasons-behind-monogamy-in-humans).  

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