Advantages And Disadvantages Of Serial Monogamy Wiki

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'Kiss me quick while we still have this feeling, because tomorrows can be so uncertain, love can fly and leave just hurting.' (Patsy Cline) 'You win a while, and then it's done - Your little winning streak.'

(Leonard Cohen) For many people, the exclusivity implied in strict monogamy is profoundly valuable. Romantic Ideology endorses such monogamy which requires total devotion to the beloved-it limits the whole world of the lover to that of the beloved.

(This is, of course, making the assumption that these serial relationships are in fact monogamous.) The advantages of serial monogamy are that each individual relationship is (on average) relatively stable and clearly delineated, while the ability to abandon one relationship and move on to another provides for variety. Apr 13, 2017  7 Advantages and Disadvantages of Monogamy Apr 13, 2017 Apr 12, 2017 by Crystal Ayres Monogamy, or being in a relationship with only one partner for an extended period of time (or your whole life) used to be the norm.

Consider the following popular song: 'I want give you all I have, I would do anything to be with you, but one thing I won't do, is share you.' The difficulties surrounding in modern society have popularized a version of monogamy, which may be termed 'serial monogamy.' In this version, commitment or exclusivity typical of monogamy is maintained but it is usually confined to a limited period. In this increasingly popular romantic pattern, people still believe in some moderate form of ideal love, but give up their basic pretense that it should last forever. The beloved is still regarded to be unique, but in many cases he is not so for the rest of our life. There is empirical evidence indicating that monogamy has been prevalent only among a minority of human societies (less than 20%) and an even smaller minority among mammals (about 3%). Most people, throughout history and around the globe, have arranged things so that and do not necessarily coincide.

Moreover, in many otherwise monogamous societies, extramarital sex has been permitted under special conditions (e.g., certain holidays) or with particular partners (such as the husband's brothers). On the basis of a comprehensive study, conclude that there is no evidence that monogamy is somehow 'natural' or 'normal' for humans; on the contrary, there is abundant evidence that people have long been prone to having multiple sexual partners. However, they also reject the claim that monogamy is unnatural or abnormal, especially since it is the way most people have been living in recent times. Human beings are enormously flexible creatures and exhibit adaptability in dealing with the issue of monogamy and romantic exclusivity. Accordingly, they argue that 'what makes human beings unusual among other mammals is not our penchant for polygamy, but the fact that most people practice at least some form of monogamy.' The compromise required in serial monogamy is not merely in giving up the dream of eternal romantic love, but also in relinquishing certainty and living in some sort of make-belief. People behave as if their current romantic relationship will last forever, and they really hope it will be so, but they will not be devastated if it does not turn out that way.

In this case most people will look for another ideal love and some may even find someone whom they perceive to be closer to the ideal lover; however, this again may be for a limited time. People are taking their monogamous relationship seriously, but they do not necessarily believe that it must also be eternal. Let me illustrate this point by referring to a few real examples. Barbra had four husbands, all of whom died while married to her. She says that she dearly loved each of them and never thought of having an affair with another person.

She can think of no difference in the immense intensity of her love to each of them. Later on she admitted that once when her husband was already quite ill, she did love at the same time another man, but did not manifest this love till her husband's death. She further says, 'Although I am eighty-five and had four great loves, I am still hoping to meet the fifth love of my life.' The movie producer Arnon Milchen said, 'I was first married for ten years and had three children; then I lived together with my girlfriend for 12 years, and now I am with Amanda for three and a half years.

I am a one-woman man.' Milchen is indicating here that while he is in a relationship with a woman, he is indeed a one-woman man-but that his association with each woman may be limited in time. Unlike serial killers, who may have multiple personalities, serial lovers often express their own unique. Thus, Lori, a divorcee who at the age of 34 has engaged in four serious consecutive romantic relationships (two of them were in the form of marriage), has considered all four men to be ideal lovers to whom she has been totally devoted. Although she considers herself to be a victim of Romantic Ideology, she still believes, though in a somewhat moderate version, in most elements of this ideology.

She is just tired of the constant search for the ideal lover: 'if one more time I have to tell another man how many brothers and sisters I have and what they are doing, I will seriously consider jumping off the roof' (see ). People may admit to being the victims of the Romantic ideology but still believe that their painful search was worthwhile, once they found their true loving home. The problem is that such people may not be the majority. Monogamist societies prevail since they give people some kind of certainty and security that enable them to devote their resources to other issues. Serial monogamy gives such a sense of certainty and security for only a limited time, but this is the kind of accommodation people make for having greater novelty and romantic excitement in their life.

Moreover, serial monogamy may reduce the old time practice of proclaimed monogamy with clandestine. Serial monogamy does not involve profound emotional difficulties; on the contrary, it is in accordance with the brief nature of emotions and the significant role that the notion of change plays for this generation. Furthermore, despite its limited duration, this pattern also provides some sense of stability and exclusivity. Accordingly, serial monogamy has been the most prevailing form of romantic relationship and is likely to continue to be so. The sought-after ideal may still be that of long-lasting monogamy, but the fallback, when such an ideal is not feasible, is that of serial monogamy. This is an obvious argument of convenience that would sound silly if we replace monogamy with a litany of other human traits or tendencies that we don't practice well but like more than lifelong monogamy.

We've not exactly done a stellar job of being honest with one another over the centuries, or peaceful, or any other positive trait we would love for us to all practice, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't continue to strive for perfection of those ideals. A lousy history of practicing monogamy is not a good reason to stop trying, any more than a lousy history of peace among men should lead us to shrug our shoulders and resign ourselves to constant war. The author uses history to 'prove' that we should relax our standards on lifelong commitment to another person, simply because it's been proven that it is hard to do. If we applied that view of history to racism (humankind has a much worse track record on this than on monogamy), we'd have to shrug our shoulders, relax our standards and say 'history tells us some societies do okay with racial equality and most don't.

So just relax. Sometimes history isn't the best place to look to find out how we should live.

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If the author believed in evolution, he might make the argument that we need to move beyond our shameful history regarding our long-term commitment to others. I agree that history can hardly prove anything about the future. But history can illustrate possible manners of development concerning monogamy. The difficulties in monogamy relate to difficulties in modern society as well as general psychological difficulties associated with long-term passionate romantic love.

Furthermore, I did not argue that monogamy is bad and should not pursue; it can be a wonderful arrangement for many people. I just indicated that for many people monogamy is quite difficult to pursue. Agreed that history as well as modern society show that monogamy is hard, and therefore those who find it hard are excused.

My point is finding external reasons for unfaithfulness is no more legitimate than finding external reasons for not living in peace or being honest, or treating each other with equity. If someone decides monogamy is not for them, they should simply take responsibility for their own decision, not use history or their environment to say 'the devil made me do it.' Adults don't blame their environment or circumstances for their decisions.

Either monogamy, honesty, peacy, equity, etc. Are worth living out or they aren't. Most of life is hard, and achieving just about anything worth achieving is hard.

Victimology starts with finding external reasons why I can't do something. Maturity starts with taking responsibility for my own life and acting based on what is right, not on what is easy or convenient.

I don't think you can group monogamy with peace, equity, honesty, etc. The concept of monogamy is between two consenting people specifically; deciding you've found the person you wish to spend the rest of your life with, and asking them to join you, doesn't concern anyone else. Deciding a certain race, or everyone else, is inferior to you effects many, many people who were given no choice. They're completely different concepts that can't be put together. Besides, comparing racial equality and monogamy is a little backwards. People started off as racist towards those they didn’t know, but with knowledge, work, and greater clarity of thought they were able to change.

Life-long monogamy started off as the only way to live decently, but now serial monogamy is far more wide-spread, well-known and accepted because it helps people live happy lives, not remaining with a single person they may be unhappy with. Besides, there are current polyandrous communities that live happily, peacefully, and sexually equally, which is more to be said about early monogamist societies. Again, Psychiactric studies of high divorce, separation, and short relationship rates would show much higher suicide rates, much higher need for psyshological care and generally unhappier lives, not the opposite.

Maybe we shouldn't compare manogammy to racism, but maybe we should look at health and happiness statistics in educated countries with both ideals. You will find that actual Manogammy still makes people happier throughout their entire live. Failed relationships is not much of a legacy to leave. It's definitely true that break ups, divorces, etc, are depressing and it would be much better if everyone stayed together, but I don't think there are any specific studies on the emotions of people who wait their whole lives for 'the one,' or people who fall in love, have their lover leave them or die, and choose never to love again. Neitherr of these seem like particularly happy ways to live. Then there are those who marry and are unhappy, but don't want to leave for fear of never finding someone new, or not believing in serial monogamy or divorce. But that's a while new barrel of apples.

Personally, I feel that if a person is completely emotionally bereft after a breakup or divorce, then that has more to do with the person themselves than the relationship/s they were in. ELLE: I agree with you. I also think that the idea of serial monogamy as exposed in the article is being misunderstood. Nowhere does it say that while you are in a relationship you are also on the prowl.

I know a woman who was in a 'relationship' with a man who was so totally and selfishly unfaithful with her. And yet, months after she stopped seeing him, she cries still, lives in a depressive state, and refuses to live because she says she can't function without him.

I also believe that that speaks more for a lack of self confidence in herself. I believe that when we 'wait for the one' we miss out on so many opportunities. This does not mean hopping into bed with evey Tom, Dick or Jane, but rather that people should leave themselves open to possibilities that there are less than perfect people out there who would make excellent partners. We need to learn how to live and love. I posted the comment below in another blog entry of Dr. Ben-Zeev's but will post it here too as it seems to be relevant in both pieces. The other one is here: Someone had mentioned The Ethical Slut (ie: a book about polyamory or open sexual/romantic relationships) in the other blog entry as something to consider in regards to alternatives to monogamy/serial monogamy.

My message is that 'different' isn't necessarily better than monogamy. Polyamory comes with its own set of problems - in ADDITION to the usual ones present in two-person relationships and because there are more people involved, there is beaucoup more complexity and difficulty - and more chances for more people to get hurt. I've had the opportunity to become involved with and to try out the polyamorous 'lifestyle' as an alternative. It made sense and was certainly worth looking into. After 7 years of it, I learned that the biggest difference between that lifestyle and monogamy is that with polyamory - there is simply opportunity for more people to get hurt - and in just as many if not more ways.

The thing with polyamorists is that many of them have problems with emotional intimacy. They cannot have or do not want emotionally close relationships.

They seemed to mostly prefer superficial involvements. Further, they also seemed to have issues sustaining relationships long-term. Worse than these two things, too many of them were also emotionally abusive - and they used polyamory as a sort of justification for emotional abusiveness. Many of them were also 'new relationship junkies'.

Meaning, they LIVED for the thrill of romance. The moment that feeling wore off in an existing relationship, they were on to the next one - with little regard for the other ones whose 'shiny newness' (ie NRE as it's referred to) had worn off. The 'old' lovers could just get out of the way or get off the bus. Usually it didn't matter to the 'NRE junkie'. So, it's an understatement to say these types of relationships can often be emotionally brutal - and to more than two people.

Not that they all are, or that all polyamorists have these issues. I did see several families who had been successfully together for years and had their systems for opening up to new members worked out with respect for all. It CAN be done. Mostly, though, this was not the case in the circles I associated with (several of them) and polyamory seemed to be a place for people who have trouble with intimacy, with sustaining relationships, with addiction, who lacked emotional maturity, and who were emotionally abusive - to hang out and have the behaviors stemming from their various pathologies validated by and hidden behind that lifestyle. Proceed with caution.

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Your mileage may vary. Offer void where prohibited. No warranty is offered or implied. Skate at your own risk. Serial monogamy means being with other people until it ceases to be fun, exciting, or you find someone else, and then you leave. In addition to causing broken hearts, I think these arrangements destabilize the family by telling kids that nothing is permanent and you can't trust people that get close to you. Also, people that engage in such relationships are frequently cold, shallow, and superficial sensation seekers.

Nothing that is good is easy and as a society we are taking the easy way out. Permanent exclusivity (read 'marriage') means you give up things that are important to you-money, hobbies, friendships, interests-for the sake of the love of another human being. What could be better than that?

Personally, if that's not what I get in being with someone else, then I would rather be alone. 'Settling' for second is not in my nature, nor should rational people settle for instability and disrespect. Wanna go sailing without me on a Saturday? But don't ask me if you can come back; don't ask me to compete for your time and affections. I agree that serial monogamy is a dangerous practice for those with minor children who can easily get caught up in the significant other revolving door. However, if there are no children involved, it is reasonable for adults to choose to be shallow and superficial for a while. Eventually, most of us grow up.

Having said that, I don't think we want to conclude that being married means giving up money (ambition), friends, hobbies, and interests - i.e. No more fun for you Mr. Suppose you're welcome; however, you don't want to go sailing with me on Saturday? Should I not go and, instead, stay home with you?

Isn't such selfishness just as destructive to the relationship? Serial monogamy allows the involved parties, eventually, to find other partners who either have identical interests, or who will at least be mutually comfortable spending time pursuing their own interests without being guilted by their significant other. Once this happens, the search for that next monogamous partner will stop.

Unless you speak from personal experience, it's unfair to judge others by what YOU believe to be true. I happen to believe in serial monogamy. I'm not sure you are understanding what that means. It does NOT mean that you hop from one to another when you are bored. It means that WHILE you are in a relationship, you give it your all, but you are aware that things can change over time. This is not to say that you are always on the prowl, but it does take away from the stress of trying to be the perfect mate. And so you live, you actually live and enjoy life with all it's complications and implications.

The notion that 'permanent exclusivity' means giving up everything? Why, instead of giving up everything, don't you BRING things to the relationship? Like hobbies, faith, culture, sports.I know WAY too many people who are in relationships who have NOTHING in common other than the fact that they are married. And the strain and general unhappiness shows.

There is no 'competition.' Being married should NOT mean being tied by the apron strings to your spouse. Where, then, is the trust? Love implies trust and respect.

If you feel you need to be with each other 24/7, then what that really implies, in my opinion, is a lack of trust in your spouse and a lack of self confidence in your ability to keep your spouse interested. With that said, I also believe that it is possible to love and fall out of love, and to love more than once. The human heart and soul has such a capacity for love and to love. Restricting it to one persona in all your lifetime is strange. You can love different people to different degrees. I also think that it is possible to love and be married or in a relationship and find yourself loving and having a relationship with someone else who fulfills a part of you that your spouse or significant other does not, whether this be sexual, spiritual, or otherwise.

I happen to agree with the article, I was raised to believe in the 'till death to us part' and married twice to men who didn't believe in the same. And so two divorces and three children later (by the same father, I should add), I no longer believe that monogamy is necessarily forever and ever, amen. My experience has been that it is possible to be in a monogamous relationship, but that if you accept that it may not last forever, you tend to live happier. This is not to say that I go in with the notion that 'if I get bored I'll find someone else.'

Rather, I go in with the notion that 'okay, I met this person who I love FOR NOW' and I give it my all, always open to the possibility that the love may change over time. I no longer have the stress of wondering what I'm doing wrong, what should I change about me to make me a 'perfect' partner. I pursue my personal ideals, likes, passions while also giving the best that I can to my partner. And if the love changes and it is necessary to move on? Then I do so. I have found that it IS possible to love more than once, passionately and completely.

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So I guess in essence the notion of serial monogamy sums up what I have come to accept as okay for me. I believe in being down to earth in general, which includes realizing that relationships take work and sometimes it's best to end one and find a more compatible mate. However I don't agree with the attitudes some of the people are having on here about only loving someone temporarily. Love, like any emotion, is not a choice. To claim you enter a relationship with the intention of loving someone 'for now' shows emotional immaturity and selfishness.

I agree that there are various degrees of love (being 'in love' for me is different than having love for someone for example, not to mention friendship love vs romantic love), but genuine feelings of love stem from the heart, they are not things you consciously turn on and off. If you choose to enter a serious, exclusive relationship with someone with the intent of your 'love' being conditional, you better tell that person upfront. Otherwise it's selfish and cruel to allow them to become emotionally invested in you if you don't want the same things (ie to build a life together). I was going to specifically discuss marriage too, but that would be an entire new post with what all I have to say. Basically though, same thing. Discuss you're intentions and desires to remarry or not BEFORE you tie the knot; you each have a right to know if you're love for each other is different and decide if you still want to be with that person.

This whole idea of dating only one person at a time seems to come so naturally to everyone in my generation except for me. The normal 'how we met and started dating' for a college student goes like this: We made eyes at a party and started talking.

We exchanged insert favorite mode of modern day communication and then the next night we met up at a frat. We played some pong and then went back and hooked up. We had a pleasantly awkward breakfast the next morning.

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We e-mailed all week long and then met up the next weekend. This repeated a few times and then we were in a serious relationship. It would be considered taboo to flirt with anyone else. Getting dinner with a different person or taking a going to a movie with a cute boy/girl would be almost like adultery. Notice how the casual hookup became a serious monogamous relationship in about two weeks without any traditional dates.

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A date is a simple thing - it can be a casual lunch or a trip to the skating rink. At 21, I am still trying to figure out who I am and what kind of person I want to be with.

In order to do this, I need to try out many different types of people and make mental pros and cons, and lists of characteristics until I find someone that is just my type and sweeps me off my feet. In other words, I, as well as other young people, should be dating lots of different people at once. I think the anachronistic term is 'playing the field.' Today, there is no such thing as playing the field. Dating as it once existed is dead. Now dating is synonymous with 'going steady' and implies extreme loyalty and faithfulness.

Am I so amoral to think that until I have a ring on my finger I do not owe extreme amounts of loyalty to anyone? And that I should be able to date and flirt with multiple people at once until I find someone I am exceptionally compatible with? How did this generation of kids that grew up in overwhelmingly broken household become so neurotic about monogamy in dating? Perhaps we are turning against our parents' generation that got married early and divorced often. The history of dating seems to provide some insight to how we got to this position today where a couple can 'break up' even if they have never even been on a real date and friends can judge each other about 'cheating.'

In the 1950s, young people dated. I envision soda shops and backseats of Cadillacs. They may have been some fooling around, but probably no sex.

In the 60s and 70s, free love ran as rampant as white flowing skirts and tie-dye t-shirts. In the 80s and 90s, people grew more cautious because of AIDS and other STDs. Today, we have taken sex ed classes and attached a whole lot or morality to sexual activities. The result is that us college kids still do have sex, but only with one person at any given time.

Hence, serial monogamous dating occurs. I fear for my generation because there does not seem to be much of a difference between dating and marriage. Dating is a desert or a deluge. There is no such thing as casual dating or to date just a little bit. When it comes to relationships you are in or you are out. This sounds healthy enough, but I predict a backlash. I think a lot of people are afraid to 'experiment' with the dating scene for fear of becoming entrenched in something too serious and mucky to escape.

No one develops game or skills, if you get my drift. People stick with a relationship even if it may not be working out because the world of not dating is as mysterious as Mars. Some young people may be willing to commit now, but will this lead to happy marriages in the next decade? Jury is still out and I am still running away from relationships. I prefer to keep my options open and sometimes this means that I am alone on a Friday night writing about dating instead of experiencing it. Someday I will find someone I want to commit to and in the mean time, my laptop is an awfully reliable lover.