THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SOCIALLY IMPOSED MONOGAMY IN WESTERN-EUROPE

Although stratified societies have typically been characterized by int ensive polygyny, socially imposed monogamy has developed in the strati fied societies of Western Europe. Following a critical review of other theories of socially imposed monogamy, a multivariate, nondeterminist ic theory is developed. Within this theory, a variety of internal poli tical processes can result in socially imposed monogamy, but this phen omenon-while consistent with evolutionary theory is underdetermined wi th respect to (1) evolutionary theory, (2) human nature/nurture (i.e., the characteristics of humans), and (3) external ecological variables . Data on the origins and maintenance of socially imposed monogamy In Western Europe are reviewed, indicating that post-antiquity socially i mposed monogamy originated in the late Middle Ages and has been mainta ined since that period by a variety of social controls and ideologies, including political activities of the Christian Church and, in later periods, of women and lower- and middle-status males. As a result of i nstitutionalized controls on reproduction, non-monogamous Western sexu ality has been directed at obtaining psychological rewards deriving fr om evolved motivational systems (e.g., sexual pleasure, excitement, fe elings of dominance, status, or intimacy), but this non-monogamous sex uality has not typically been a major source of increased reproductive success.