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Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

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Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#61
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It is likely that as top men take on more women, we'll run into the same problems that polygamist cultures face. What about top women taking on more men?

Women tend not to "take on" men. They attach themselves to one and fuck others as the opportunity arises.

But Halle Berry has to pay child support to all four of her former hubbies.

Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No exactly the same, but it is becoming more common for women in the United States to have children to multiple different men in quick succession. Definitely a form of polygamy. Particularly of note in poverty stricken communities and the African American community which also happen to have many social problems. Its an interesting theory worth looking more into IMO.

When the black males spend their time in prison - you have serious competition for the ones that are out. It is not polygamy/andry, it is an act of desperation on the women's side to have any kind of economic support. When the social net is thin or unexistent - even if it means risking to have another kid. Add to the fact that poor people are the most restricted with their access to contraception and abortion. And yo…

Also worth noting, unlike Black men, multiple studies show that Black women (across countries) are the least sexually desirable race/gender combo for straight men. I've linked to one source from OkCupid below.

http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/your-race-affects-whether-...

To speculate, IMO its in large part due to physical differences between races - the small petite Asian frames being advantageous for Asian women and disadvantageous for Asian men, and the large Black frames being advantageous for Black men, and disadvantageous for Black women. Societal views definitely play a role too. It would be interesting to compare across different societies.

Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No exactly the same, but it is becoming more common for women in the United States to have children to multiple different men in quick succession. Definitely a form of polygamy. Particularly of note in poverty stricken communities and the African American community which also happen to have many social problems. Its an interesting theory worth looking more into IMO.

> No exactly the same, but it is becoming more common for women in the United States to have children to multiple different men in quick succession. Definitely a form of polygamy. While sometimes people refer to "serial polygamy", and there are some contexts where its actually reasonable to view that as a kind of polygamy, here, where the focus is on formal, recognized marriage structures and whether men have the opp…

I still think it's relevant in determining how multiple partners affects social problems. The broader picture.

Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#64
post #6

Would the authors venture to make a prediction on what will happen as the US moves away from monogamy? Edit: I'm not talking about moving towards poligamy. I'm talking about moving away from monogamous marriage in general. To quote from the article: According to Henrich, monogamy’s main cultural evolutionary advantage over polygyny is the more egalitarian distribution of women, which reduces male competition and soci…

The US isn't moving away from monogamy (in the sense of this study, as the only formally-recognized form of marriage.) Its arguably moving toward marriage itself being less of an expectation, but its not clear how that relates to the study.

Strictly speaking not true. Monogamous marriage is the only kind of marriage that can be started in the US. The US does, however, recognize non-monogamous marriages.

Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#65
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When the black males spend their time in prison - you have serious competition for the ones that are out. It is not polygamy/andry, it is an act of desperation on the women's side to have any kind of economic support. When the social net is thin or unexistent - even if it means risking to have another kid. Add to the fact that poor people are the most restricted with their access to contraception and abortion. And yo…

But which is the cause, and which is the effect? Could it be that welfare benefits have reduced the necessity for a woman to hold on to a man for financial support, so these men are now "adrift" and more likely to end up incarcerated? It might be interesting to look at welfare benefits and incarceration rates before and after 1964.

I'm SUPER interested in how welfare/child support has had a negative impact on African Amercian men, and the community at large. More people need to study this.

I love examples of good intentions going bad.

Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When the black males spend their time in prison - you have serious competition for the ones that are out. It is not polygamy/andry, it is an act of desperation on the women's side to have any kind of economic support. When the social net is thin or unexistent - even if it means risking to have another kid. Add to the fact that poor people are the most restricted with their access to contraception and abortion. And yo…

Also worth noting, unlike Black men, multiple studies show that Black women (across countries) are the least sexually desirable race/gender combo for straight men. I've linked to one source from OkCupid below. http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/your-race-affects-whether-... To speculate, IMO its in large part due to physical differences between races - the small petite Asian frames being advantageous for Asian women a…

We should really compare OK cupid with Tinder. Since its goal is different with OK cupid there may be some insights.

Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#67
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it is. Marriage rates are at an all time low, divorce rates are at an all time high, never married rate is at an all time high, out of wedlock births are at an all time high, and there is no deterrent for adultery. The west has been in a soft-polygamy system since no-fault divorce was instigated. The only reason the illusion of classical marriage limps on is because the vestiges of the old system, mainly the ide…

People do not feel a need to register and seek permission for their relationships with the church, that doesn't mean they aren't having them. >The west has been in a soft-polygamy system since no-fault divorce was instigated. What? Are you implying that seeking a new partner after divorce is polygamy? >Thus, young average men enter into marriage with women assuming lifelong monogamy, and are surprised to find their w…

>consider the hypothesis that your supposed inferiors were actually doing fine until colonial powers that share your values decided to forcefully exploit them.

The problem here is that part of 'doing well' is being able to exploit those weaker than you and to not be exploited by those stronger than you. (We may consider exploitation wrong in our own moral frameworks built from our own desire to not be exploited, but we should remember mother nature knows no such concept.)

Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#68
post #59

IMO, humans, male or female, seek the best mate. "Best" is subjective but usually easy to understand. Men want youthful, beautiful women whereas women want strong, resourceful men. In enforcing monogamy, we ensured that male got what they wanted (a young woman) and now, that male can focus his attention on work. This worked well for women too (if they had a choice of male) since they now have a partner as well. Adult…

> Men want youthful, beautiful women

> women want strong, resourceful men

Ugh.

Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#69

If there are, "significantly higher levels rape, kidnapping, murder, assault, robbery and fraud in polygynous cultures" and going to monogamy reduces these, then I wonder what happens if we turn that dial even further? What happens when society moves towards polyandry? Polyandry had particular high logistical costs for most of our history, because of childbirth. However, birth control technology has developed to the…

> Polyandry was not possible for most of our history, because of the logistics of childbirth. Logistics of childbirth don't make polyandry as an institution impossible; the societies in which polyandry, fraternal or otherwise, was practiced have not generally been modern societies or otherwise especially relieved of the natural logistics of childbirth.

I've corrected this. My main point still stands even when "possible" is replaced with "lower cost."

Re: Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures (2012)

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know that the United States is "moving away from monogamy". I've certainly read more about polygamous relationships lately, but I think that's a consequence of the greater visibility afforded by the Internet, and the decreasing stigmatization of such relationships making people more likely to be open about it. I would want to see some hard evidence before just saying that polygamy is actually increasing in fr…

It does seem to be moving away from, or at least clinging less tightly to, lifelong monogamy and growing more tolerant of serial monogamy.

It's probably not a change in behavior, but a change in what is acceptable to talk about.
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