What Is Polygamy?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistory of PolygamyTypes of PolygamyThe Practice of PolygamyImpact of PolygamyPotential Pitfalls of Polygamy

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Table of Contents

History of Polygamy

Types of Polygamy

The Practice of Polygamy

Impact of Polygamy

Potential Pitfalls of Polygamy

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When you think of marriage, you most likely think of a union between two partners. However, there are other types of marriages likepolygamy. Polygamy is a type of relationship that typically involves a person marrying more than one partner.When a woman marries more than one man, it’s calledpolyandry. Polygamy is the opposite ofmonogamy, where one person marries one spouse.

Polygamy involves at least three individuals (a person married to two different spouses), but there is no limit to how many spouses a person in this type of relationship may have. However, polygamy is either illegal or discouraged in most regions. In some cases, polygamy isn’t explicitly unlawful. However,bigamyis. Bigamy occurs when a person who’s married marries another person who does not know their partner is already married.

This article discusses the history of polygamy, the types of polygamy, and how people practice it. It also discusses the impact and pitfalls of this kind of relationship arrangement.

Interestingly, monogamy is a relatively recent concept in human history. Before the formation of urban communities we recognize today, people were primarily polygamous.

While polygamy has a somewhat checkered history in recent times, many people voluntarily opted for a polygamous relationship instead of a monogamous relationship centuries ago.

In the U.S., polygamy is often associated with the LDS (“Mormon”) church. In 1852, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) made the practice of men having multiple wives (referred to as “plural marriage”) part of their official church doctrine.

These days polygamy is frowned upon in many societies and has been outrightly banned in most countries. Polygamy is illegal in the United States, China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

There are generally three forms of polygamy: polygyny, polyandry, and group marriage.

Polygyny

Polygyny is the specific form of polygamy where a man marries multiple wives. This term is most commonly used interchangeably with polygamy because it’s the most common form of the concept.

Polyandry

Polyandry is a less common form of polygamy. With polyandry, you find a woman marrying multiple men.

Group Marriage

Group marriage, as the term implies, is when several men and women marry each other. This is a rarer form of polygamy.

While some people might consider the above as types of polygamy, others might recognize them as concepts of their own. And in some instances, the terms are used interchangeably.

How Does a Throuple Work?

Since polygamy is illegal in many countries, people who wish to practice polygamy opt-out of getting married in a traditional setting and choose a casual arrangement.

Polyamory

Polygamy is often confused with polyamory, which is a more acceptable and legal way to be in a relationship with multiple partners in the world today.

Polyamory isa type of relationship where a person has multiple partners. All partners typically know of each other and are aware that they are in a polyamorous relationship.

For a healthy polyamorous relationship to work, all partners need to be open and honest with each other.

In parts of the Middle East and Asia, polygamy is legal. In many parts of Africa, it’s not only permitted but widely practiced, especially in West Africa. Regions in West Africa that are predominantly Muslim embrace polygamy. According to Islamic doctrine, a man is allowed to have up to four wives.

Polygamous and polyandrous relationships can be complicated to navigate, certainly more than the more traditional monogamous relationships. So, if you are considering a polygamous relationship in a region where it’s legal or a polyamorous relationship in areas where it’s illegal to marry multiple spouses, there are things to contemplate to ensure you remain in a healthy and open relationship.

Here are some things to consider:

Over the years, the impact of polygamy on society has been argued about. The pros and cons are often debated, and a case can be made for either one.

Some Believe That Polygamy Violates Women’s Rights

According to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, polygamy violates the dignity of women and should be abolished in whatever regions they currently exist. They believe that polygamy infringes upon women’s free will.

You often find that in areas where polygamy is predominant, women are coerced into marrying men they have no desire to marry. Laws that allow polygamy are also typically skewed in favor of men. For instance, with Sharia Law practiced in some parts of West Africa, men can take on multiple wives while women can’t.

Some Believe That Believe Polygamy Benefits Children

On the other hand, people might argue that polygamy allows for the creation of larger family units. A small 2015 study conducted in Tanzania found that polygamy could result in greater health and wealth for women and children in polygamous families.

7 Surprising Ways to Make Your Relationship Even Better

One of the potential pitfalls of polygamy is the adverse effects it tends to have on women. In most polygamous relationships, there’s apower imbalancebetween the men and women in the relationship. Especially because polygyny, where one man has multiple wives, is the more common concept.

In many polygamous relationships, the women are often pitted against each other to compete for men’s attention.

In a 2013 study into the impact of polygamy on women’s health, researchers found that women in polygynous relationships are more likely to have mental health issues than women in monogamous relationships. They reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and decreased life and marital satisfaction.

Research also suggests polygamy is associated with physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and mothers in polygamous families demonstrate negative emotions, including loneliness, despair, anger, powerlessness, and sadness.

Some research also shows that children born into polygamous situations can be adversely affected. They believe that polygamous marriages create stressful situations for children that could disrupt their development.

Other researchers argue that polygamous marriages provide more role models for children who can positively affect their development. According to them, polygamous relationships offer more warmth and affection for children than monogamous relationships do.

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.APA Dictionary of Psychology.Polygamy. 2020Bauch CT, McElreath R.Disease dynamics and costly punishment can foster socially imposed monogamy.Nature Communications. 2016;7(1):11219.Pew Research Center.Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions.Zeitzen MK.Polygamy(Polygyny, polyandry).In:The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology.American Cancer Society; 2018:1-2.Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.Polygamy Remains Common and Mostly Legal In West Africa.January 2019ScienceDaily.Often decried, polygyny may sometimes have advantages.October 29, 2015Shepard LD.The impact of polygamy on women’s mental health: a systematic review.Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.2013;22(1):47-62.Gadban F, Goldner L.“I have no hope”: the experience of mothers in polygamous families as manifested in drawings and narratives.Front Psychol. 2020;11:608577. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608577Elbedour S, Onwuegbuzie AJ, Caridine C, Abu-Saad H.The Effect of Polygamous Marital Structure on Behavioral, Emotional, and Academic Adjustment in Children: A Comprehensive Review of the LiteratureClinical Child and Family Psychology Review.2002;5(4):255-271.

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.APA Dictionary of Psychology.Polygamy. 2020Bauch CT, McElreath R.Disease dynamics and costly punishment can foster socially imposed monogamy.Nature Communications. 2016;7(1):11219.Pew Research Center.Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions.Zeitzen MK.Polygamy(Polygyny, polyandry).In:The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology.American Cancer Society; 2018:1-2.Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.Polygamy Remains Common and Mostly Legal In West Africa.January 2019ScienceDaily.Often decried, polygyny may sometimes have advantages.October 29, 2015Shepard LD.The impact of polygamy on women’s mental health: a systematic review.Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.2013;22(1):47-62.Gadban F, Goldner L.“I have no hope”: the experience of mothers in polygamous families as manifested in drawings and narratives.Front Psychol. 2020;11:608577. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608577Elbedour S, Onwuegbuzie AJ, Caridine C, Abu-Saad H.The Effect of Polygamous Marital Structure on Behavioral, Emotional, and Academic Adjustment in Children: A Comprehensive Review of the LiteratureClinical Child and Family Psychology Review.2002;5(4):255-271.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

APA Dictionary of Psychology.Polygamy. 2020Bauch CT, McElreath R.Disease dynamics and costly punishment can foster socially imposed monogamy.Nature Communications. 2016;7(1):11219.Pew Research Center.Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions.Zeitzen MK.Polygamy(Polygyny, polyandry).In:The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology.American Cancer Society; 2018:1-2.Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.Polygamy Remains Common and Mostly Legal In West Africa.January 2019ScienceDaily.Often decried, polygyny may sometimes have advantages.October 29, 2015Shepard LD.The impact of polygamy on women’s mental health: a systematic review.Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.2013;22(1):47-62.Gadban F, Goldner L.“I have no hope”: the experience of mothers in polygamous families as manifested in drawings and narratives.Front Psychol. 2020;11:608577. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608577Elbedour S, Onwuegbuzie AJ, Caridine C, Abu-Saad H.The Effect of Polygamous Marital Structure on Behavioral, Emotional, and Academic Adjustment in Children: A Comprehensive Review of the LiteratureClinical Child and Family Psychology Review.2002;5(4):255-271.

APA Dictionary of Psychology.Polygamy. 2020

Bauch CT, McElreath R.Disease dynamics and costly punishment can foster socially imposed monogamy.Nature Communications. 2016;7(1):11219.

Pew Research Center.Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions.

Zeitzen MK.Polygamy(Polygyny, polyandry).In:The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology.American Cancer Society; 2018:1-2.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.Polygamy Remains Common and Mostly Legal In West Africa.January 2019

ScienceDaily.Often decried, polygyny may sometimes have advantages.October 29, 2015

Shepard LD.The impact of polygamy on women’s mental health: a systematic review.Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.2013;22(1):47-62.

Gadban F, Goldner L.“I have no hope”: the experience of mothers in polygamous families as manifested in drawings and narratives.Front Psychol. 2020;11:608577. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608577

Elbedour S, Onwuegbuzie AJ, Caridine C, Abu-Saad H.The Effect of Polygamous Marital Structure on Behavioral, Emotional, and Academic Adjustment in Children: A Comprehensive Review of the LiteratureClinical Child and Family Psychology Review.2002;5(4):255-271.

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