It could be argued that the set of laws in any land signify what is truly important for the peace and prosperity of its people. This is because the resources required to create and uphold laws are significant. In modern democracies, there are piles of paperwork prepared and sometimes years…

What role does religion play in our sexually exclusive relationships? If you describe yourself as an agnostic or an atheist, you may wish to skip this chapter. However, you would be incorrect in assuming that because you have rejected religion, it has no relevance to your intimate relationships. Marriage, sex…

How children’s cinema shapes unrealistic expectations for sexually exclusive relationships. Once upon a time, Fantasy and Reality met in the Kingdom of Monogamy. Here’s what happened next. It may seem odd to be talking about the innocent world of Disney in a book about adult relationships. However, our beliefs about…

This is Chapter 7 of the upcoming book The Moral Dilemma of Monogamy “Maturity is the discipline of giving up and giving away, to see what is left and what is real.” ~ David Whyte[1] Love between two individuals is the foundation of successful monogamous unions. However, there is a…

Meandering the maze of love and understanding what it means for monogamy. — This is Chapter 6 of The Moral Dilemma of Monogamy — the upcoming book by Belinda Tobin There are many experiences we all share as humans. At one time or another, we all endure physical pain, enjoy satisfaction with a job well done, suffer sadness at the passing of a…

Both murder and marriage may be classified as crimes of passion. Monogamy is an issue of morality because it is deemed the gold standard arrangement for mature relationships. Its predominant place in society makes it a largely unquestioned social norm. It is also the only legally accepted form of marriage…

I must preface this chapter by stating I am not an anthropologist or historian. Moreover, the information contained within is only the tip of the iceberg that is the history of our intimate human relationships. Of course, this circumstance will become apparent as you continue. Still, I decided to provide…

The previous chapter presented the science that shows monogamy is an unnatural mating arrangement for our species. Human physiology is geared towards maximising reproductive potential, and monogamy inhibits the achievement of this intrinsic aim. If we choose monogamy, then we need to understand that both our bodies and brains may…

Now that we have a working definition of monogamy (a dyadic and sexually exclusive relationship), we can determine if this state is natural for human beings. The word natural means “in accordance with or determined by nature.”[1] So, as this definition suggests, when we ask if monogamy is natural, we…