Naturally, you’re not monogamous - but you can choose to be
Monogamy is under siege. But not from uncloseted polyamorists, adolescent ”hook-up” advocates, radical feminists, godless communists or some vast homosexual conspiracy. The culprit is our own biology.
Researchers in animal behaviour have long known that monogamy is uncommon in the natural world, but only with the advent of DNA ”fingerprinting” have we come to appreciate how truly rare it is. Genetic testing has recently shown that even among many bird species - long touted as the epitome of monogamous fidelity - it is not uncommon for 6 per cent to 60 per cent to be fathered by someone other than the mother’s social partner. We now know scientifically that social monogamy does not necessarily imply sexual monogamy.
In Heartburn, the lead character complains about her husband’s philandering and gets this response: ”You want monogamy? Marry a swan!” But that wouldn’t do the trick. Scientists have found that even swans play around.
Read more at www.smh.com.au
