Unlike dolphins that often switch partners, new research shows humans may prefer stable relationships. This goes against the idea that monogamy isn’t ‘natural’ for us.
A study from the University of Cambridge looked at half-siblings in humans and 34 mammal species. The idea is straightforward: polygamous species have more kids with different parents, while monogamous ones have more siblings from the same two parents.
The results reveal that 66% of human kids share both parents. This puts us alongside classic monogamous species like the Eurasian beaver and the white-handed gibbon. However, we still fall short of the ‘monogamy champion,’ the California mouse, which has 100% reproductive fidelity.
The research used genetic data and records from 94 societies, where polygyny was common. Still, monogamy appears to be the main pattern in human reproduction and may help create stable family structures in societies.
The researcher points out that these findings focus on reproduction, not necessarily sexual fidelity. Today, contraception and cultural practices also play a big role.
