Are Humans NATURALLY promiscuous?

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We've had some side discussions on this in a couple of topics, and I think that the topic merits its own discussion.

The conventional anthropological view regarding human sexuality was summarize by

I'd say yes, that generally humans are promiscuous. A recent survey in France has revealed that around 55% of married men have had an affair!

A few years ago I also read a survey that a relatively high proportion of children (10% if memory serves correctly) are born to women having affairs outside of marriage and the husband is unaware that he is raising another man's child. It will be interesting if the availability of genetic paternity testing will influence this dynamic.

Maybe humans are essentially opportunists. Men will put it about anywhere and everywhere given the chance and women aren't adverse to getting pregnant by a man other than their husband if they can get away with it. Maybe the husband is a good partner and is stable and a reliable provider but the father of the child is a genetically superior "stud" who is physically "superior" to her husband but he isn't suitable as a mate for an ongoing relationship. So the woman gets the best of both worlds for her children, good genes plus a reliable supportive partner.

No, I don't think we are and to be honest I do not really agree with Chis Ryan or see what his point is to be honest with you. I have read his book Sex at Dawn and while it was witty and rather interesting to read, I cannot say I find found his consclusions particularly pursuasive. Firstly, I would not say there is any such thing as natural and to be honest I find the word a little bit silly since there cannot be any dualistic seperation between unnatural and natural. Everything we do as human beings is natural and to say that something is unnatural seems impossible. The human brain has its foundations in the natural world and thus anything it creates has its source in nature. Of course, cultural conditioning may come into is however cultural conditioning is a natural phenomenon as well. Everything that humans do is natural. Plus even if monogomy is unnatural, so what? If someone enjoys it, why bother them? Thus, many things could be concieved as being unnatural such as shoes but should we stop wearing them? No, because them provide warmth and protection. Should we stop using computers because they are unnatural? No because they are entertaining and can make life easier.

According to Chris Ryan many tribes are promiscuous, which is based on the assumption that tribes are somehow more natural than any other group however many athropologists would dispute this and say that tribes are no more natural than we are. They are slaves to their own form of cultural conditioning however it just manifests itself within a different form. Also, if we are going to emulate tribes, why not also take that which exists in their culture that is also violent and oppressive if we think its natural? If we are going to take the orgies, are we going to also take the many forms of female genital mutilation as well?

Also, agriculture may have been a compltely nessecary step in our development. Plus, how can relationships be a manifestation of private property if both individuals are consenting. Also, in my opinion, human being quite like to own things and, regardless if it is egotistical or not, like to feel as if they have something exclusive to themselves. It brings a sense of comfort and security.

Chris Ryan also states that we are biologically most related to bonobo monkeys who indulge in promiscuous affairs, which may be true however we are seperate from bonobo monkeys. We are also closely genetically related to bananas meaning that the slightests change in genetics can create a massive difference in human behaviour. Plus bonobo monkeys do not have the complex social systems that we do that influence them. Yes, 55% of men may have had an affair but that is dependent on so many different variables.

To concude, I do not really see the point of such a debate. Many people are happily married and are together forever and plus, it is not like we are somehow not permitted to sleep with a range of people? If you want to sleep with 50 different people in a week you can and if you don't want to, then that is perfectly acceptable as well. Sorry, this debate slightly pisses me off since it tends to make those who are in a relationship like me feel as if what they are doing is somehow unnatural. Sorry, in a very bad mood today

There's nothing natural about monogamy.

If it wasn't for promiscuity I would never have been born.

Same here,I was a mistake and bio mom hated me from the get go.

I'm waiting for the part where being promiscuous apparently means a woman can't be raped. The argument is far too common for my tastes.

It seems that this is an impossible topic to look at in a completely objective manner. Of course, we all want to think that our own sexuality is natural.

The gents can now say "Yay! I can now go to Asia and enjoy all of the women I want, and I am not a degenerate! I'm just undoing centuries of artificial social conditioning, and getting back in touch with my primal nature!"

And, other anthropologists are saying "This upstart is contradicting, and making a mockery of everything upon which I have built my entire, illustrious career! I've got to shoot this sucker down, whatever it takes!"

I don't know what the Feminists have had to say. But, if it is about abolishing Patriarchy, then they probably like it.

Here is a Salon interview with Mr. Ryan.

http://www.salon.com/2010/06/27/sex_at_dawn_interview/

This interview provides brief snippets that would be handy for copying and pasting into internet debates.

For example,

I chose "other" because I believe in projection. People will project what they want onto others. I think you find a little bit of everything, from asexuality to promiscuous and people can go from one to the other, like, they could have a few years being promiscuous, then find "the one" stay with that person a few years, then maybe have an affair or two. They could reach the point where they have no sex. Sexuality is seldom a static thing.

Then you have those like my mom's relatives who stay married and never ever cheat.