Monogamy: Its essence and its benefits “From this moment on, I take you as my best friend for life. I pledge to honor, encourage, and support you as we walk together. I promise to provide for you and always make you a priority in my life. With every beat of my heart, I will love you. This is my solemn vow” (Daversa). This vow is an example of words spoken between a man and a woman on their wedding day as they face each other and declare their love in front of their family and friends. However, when the same man says these words repeatedly to different women, then the validity is called into question. Monogamy is the practice or state of being married or having a sexual relationship with one person at a time (Little et. al. 1275). Although rare, monogamous relationships can be observed between animals in the wild. Beavers, who mate for life, use their union as a survival tool to build and maintain their dams (Caraza). Although humans are considered animals, they have evolved beyond their counterparts to develop a whole set of complex emotions: love, jealousy, rage and depression. Generally, animals do not need emotional fulfillment. Their brains do not have the capacity to accommodate these feelings that humans have managed to develop. Humans, on the other hand, have emotional needs, including expressing love and receiving love in return. Man's greatest fear is loneliness, and monogamy helps give humans that deep emotional connection with another human being that we all need to survive (Becker 34). Monogamy provides individuals with emotional and physical stability that cannot be achieved with alternatives to monogamy. Many people believe that monogamy is monoto...... middle of paper ......ng to protect what is theirs. The feeling of belonging now envelops them. Monogamy, in every sense of the word and what it represents, is the best form of relationship. It is big enough to understand the father, mother and children, but small enough to interact and understand everyone's concerns and expectations. A well-guided monogamous relationship, rooted in trust and love, is the best environment in which one can thrive. This is especially true for children who cannot make decisions for themselves and are entirely dependent on the choices made for them. Monogamy also encourages gender equality and compromise between two parties to reach fundamental decisions. The benefits of monogamy far outweigh those of alternative relationship styles. Thus, monogamy provides a solid foundation and creates an environment for positive growth for many generations to come...