Monogamy

Context

I called my friend Eric after hanging out with a friend of mine. She and I had talked about plans for the weekend and for spring break, and she mentioned that she was going on two dates back to back before heading to fort lauderdale (where I went to highschool) for spring break.

As a fort lauderdale native, I can tell you that it is infamous as a destination for promiscuous and popular college-age kids to party, drink, and sleep with each other for a week straight.

This was the catalyst for our discussion about the origins of monogamous relationships, when exclusivity is an acceptable expectation, what it means to feel jealous, and what the appropriate reaction is to infidelity.

This is not presented as a conversation between myself and Eric. Many of the thoughts were shared (and sometimes developed together) so I have credited him. What's written here is my own summary of what I took away from it all.

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What is there about an exclusive relationship that makes it preferable to a casual relationship?

What is there about a monogamous relationship that makesa it preferable to a casual relationship?

Is asking for an exclusive relationship really the same thing as asking for a monogamous relationship?

Suppose that men are genuinely self sufficient in survival. What is the incentive for men to take care of their mate / child?