The Monogamy Gene

Summary

The article discusses the influence of the RS3 334 gene on human monogamy and trust, suggesting a genetic predisposition for non-monogamy or difficulty with commitment.

Abstract

The article titled "The Monogamy Gene" explores the genetics behind monogamous and non-monogamous behavior in humans, particularly focusing on the RS3 334 gene. It explains how vasopressin, often referred to as "the monogamy hormone," and its receptors play a crucial role in forming pair bonds. The presence of the RS3 334 gene, which modulates vasopressin expression, is suggested to affect an individual's likelihood of being monogamous. A Swedish study involving 552 participants revealed that men with two copies of the gene had more challenges with commitment and monogamy compared to those without the gene. The article emphasizes that non-monogamy is a natural inclination and that trust in others may also be influenced by this gene. It concludes by noting that monogamy is a personal choice and that the increasing acceptance of polyamory should be considered when individuals decide on their relationship style.

Opinions

The author believes that monogamy is a choice and that there is nothing inherently wrong with non-monogamy or being single.
The author suggests that the RS3 334 gene could be a significant factor in an individual's predisposition to non-monogamy, serial monogamy, or remaining single.
Trust in others, not just in romantic relationships, may be affected by genetic factors, particularly the RS3 334 gene.
The article acknowledges the growing acceptance of polyamory and implies that societal norms around relationships are evolving.
The author hints at the possibility that some individuals may stay in relationships out of obligation rather than genuine desire, influenced by social or personal pressures.

Monogamy and the Genetics of Faithfulness

Have you struggled with monogamy in your life? Perhaps in your younger days or even now, you may have had some instances of infidelity. While instances of non-monogamy happen and they’re a perfectly natural part of life, some people are actually genetically predisposed to prefer non-monogamy, rather than monogamy. Science has discovered a specific gene that plays a role in our personal predisposition to the idea of monogamy and its quite fascinating.

The Genetics of Monogamy

A series of hormones and neurotransmitters are responsible for our lust, attraction, and eventual attachment to the partners we have and will have in our lives. While the usual dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, adrenaline, testosterone, and estrogen are involved, so too are a pair of very important chemicals that help us form solid bonds — and they are oxytocin, the “cuddle chemical” and vasopressin, “the monogamy hormone.” Vasopressin has been linked to monogamy in males, and studies have shown that when it’s inserted into the brains of animals, it makes the animals in question seek to pair-bond, or settle down and commit to one partner. When vasopressin receptors are blocked in the brains of animals, they find themselves much more incapable of settling down with a single partner and tend to be non-monogamous.

A gene has been discovered called RS3 334, which modulates the expression of vasopressin, and though it’s not yet known exactly how, it’s possible that the gene somehow inhibits the production of vasopressin, which means that RS3 334 actually makes people with the gene less likely to be monogamous. In reality, RS3 334 is the non-monogamy gene and predisposes organisms including humans to stray, become serial-monogamists, or even just remain single.

Three Degrees

The RS3 334 gene comes in three degrees in human beings, and by this, I mean that humans can either have one copy of the gene, two copies of the gene, or no copies of the gene. A study in Sweden compared the quality and style of relationships in 552 people to see how the expression of the gene played out in their actual lives. Sure enough, the men who had two copies of the RS3 334 gene had a much more difficult time with commitment and monogamy, scoring low on the measure of willingness or desire to pair-bond, while men without the RS3 334 gene scored excellently on the same scale. Men with only one copy fell somewhere in the middle. The men with the RS3 334 gene were more likely to be unmarried than their counterparts without the gene, and the men with two copies were the least likely to be married.

It should be noted here, that there’s nothing wrong with non-monogamy, I personally feel that monogamy is a choice to be left up to the individual; there’s also, of course, nothing wrong with being single. Many people are both single and perfectly happy with it.

Beyond just relationships, RS3 334 also plays a role in how much we trust other people in general, meaning even the very foundation of our ability to trust people outside of our love lives could be the result of a genetic predisposition.

Practical Implications

What does all of this mean? I’d like to re-emphasize that monogamy isn’t good or bad, but a personal preference. Some people remain single, some people stick with one partner, some people have multiple partners, and all of these are perfectly okay, so long as the participants are willing and of age. With polyamory gaining a more widespread acceptance in today’s sexually liberal social climate, perhaps these results should be taken into consideration when it comes to choosing which path in life is for us. To the question, “Are humans a monogamous species?” most of those who are in-the-know, working in the fields which deal with such questions answered, “Sometimes.”

Sometimes we’re monogamous, sometimes we’re not, and that’s just the way it is.

Monogamy may not be right for everyone and that choice should be left up to the person themselves to decide how they’d like to style their sex lives. For those who’ve considered poly, my story on what to consider before taking the poly plunge may be of interest to you, which can be found here. Men who participated in the study may have scored low on their willingness to marry or commit, and their overall satisfaction within their committed relationships, but everyone involved had been in a relationship for at least 5 years, meaning that some may have stayed in a relationship even when they didn’t really want to out of some sense of social or personal obligation, rather than actual desire, which is something to consider.

Moments of Passion