However, there are other types of marriages likepolygamy.
Polygamy is the opposite ofmonogamy, where one person marries one spouse.
However, polygamy is either illegal or discouraged in most regions.
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In some cases, polygamy isnt explicitly unlawful.
Bigamy happens when a person whos married marries another person who does not know their partner is already married.
This article discusses the history of polygamy, the types of polygamy, and how people practice it.
It also discusses the impact and pitfalls of this kind of relationship arrangement.
History of Polygamy
Interestingly, monogamy is a relatively recent concept in human history.
Before the formation of urban communities we recognize today, people were primarily polygamous.
In the U.S., polygamy is often associated with the LDS (“Mormon”) church.
These days polygamy is frowned upon in many societies and has been outrightly banned in most countries.
Polygyny
Polygyny is the specific form of polygamy where a man marries multiple wives.
This term is most commonly used interchangeably with polygamy because its the most common form of the concept.
Polyandry
Polyandry is a less common form of polygamy.
With polyandry, you find a woman marrying multiple men.
This is a rarer form of polygamy.
And in some instances, the terms are used interchangeably.
Polyamory isa punch in of relationship where a person has multiple partners.
All partners typically know of each other and are aware that they are in a polyamorous relationship.
For a healthy polyamorous relationship to work, all partners need to be open and honest with each other.
In parts of the Middle East and Asia, polygamy is legal.
In many parts of Africa, its not only permitted but widely practiced, especially in West Africa.
Regions in West Africa that are predominantly Muslim embrace polygamy.
According to Islamic doctrine, a man is allowed to have up to four wives.
Polygamous and polyandrous relationships can be complicated to navigate, certainly more than the more traditional monogamous relationships.
The pros and cons are often debated, and a case can be made for either one.
They believe that polygamy infringes upon women’s free will.
Laws that allow polygamy are also typically skewed in favor of men.
In most polygamous relationships, there’s apower imbalancebetween the men and women in the relationship.
Especially because polygyny, where one man has multiple wives, is the more common concept.
In many polygamous relationships, the women are often pitted against each other to compete for men’s attention.
They reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and decreased life and marital satisfaction.
Some research also shows that children born into polygamous situations can be adversely affected.
They believe that polygamous marriages create stressful situations for children that could disrupt their development.
Other researchers argue that polygamous marriages provide more role models for children who can positively affect their development.
According to them, polygamous relationships offer more warmth and affection for children than monogamous relationships do.
APA Dictionary of Psychology.Polygamy.
2020
Bauch CT, McElreath R.Disease dynamics and costly punishment can foster socially imposed monogamy.Nature Communications.
2016;7(1):11219.
Pew Research Center.Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions.
Zeitzen MK.Polygamy(Polygyny, polyandry).In:The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology.American Cancer Society; 2018:1-2.
