Is Monogamy Natural?

With 42 per cent of UK marriages ending in divorce, and a fifth of Brits now declaring themselves polyamorous, it’s easy to start questioning whether the ritual of love we’ve chosen for so long is the best course for the future, and, if it was ever "natural" in the first place...

- Jessica Lone Summers

From an early age most of us are sold a fairy tale. That one soulmate is waiting for us, somewhere in the world, and it’s our sole mission in life to find them. Most often, this whimsical story is narrated as a woman pining for a man but—as our society is finally beginning to recognise—love can bloom between all genders. Even so, whoever the love may be between, the long-standing and unquestionably accepted form of love has always been a couple. But despite the glossy exterior of the monogamous lifestyle, there have always been cracks.

AS A CIVILISATION we’re promiscuous to say the least. Stories of married CEOs sleeping with their secretaries, celebrities having steamy affairs with their co-stars and students running after each other in night clubs have long circulated among us. And yet, we view humanity in essence as strictly monogamous, the rest classed as “being young and foolish” at best, and immoral at worst. Slip-ups, dalliances and flirtations are bound to happen— apparently, we simply can’t keep our hands off one another.

It gets hazy, however, when emotions come in. While playing with hearts, “love triangles” arise and we’re advised to choose one or lose both. We scoff at the prospect of being in love with more than one person, and couples’ arguments ensue over who was ogling who.