Is Long-Term Monogamy Natural? Divorce Data Suggests Not
The institution of marriage is something that pops up in practically every society across the world. Traditionally, it was a kind of agreement between men and women to be there for each other for their entire lives. However, if you look at marriage arrangements in the past, the expectations were different from today.
For instance, spouses didn’t believe that the other person was there to make them happy. Instead, they saw them as they would their other material possessions - a resource that they could call upon in times of need. Before the eighteenth century, romance wasn’t widespread. People had loving feelings towards each other, but they didn’t have sky-high relationship expectations. There was a genuine sense that their partner was just as flawed and prone to mistakes as they were.
Things began to change in the nineteenth century and then dramatically in the twentieth century, and partners came to expect their primary relationship to be fulfilling in every dimension. However, in reality, it can’t be that way because there are very few people who are wonderful enough to make it happen.
That reality is reflected in the following infographic on divorce statistics. The data paint a rather unpleasant picture for anyone in a marriage right now. The number one reason for divorce is infidelity. The likelihood that somebody will cheat is surprisingly high. Other top reasons are primarily emotional. Often one partner isn’t meeting the emotional needs of the other - and that’s ground for breaking up. So, is long-term monogamy natural?
If you would like to learn more, see the following statistics and interesting data-driven insights in the infographic below.
