Final answer:
Polygamous societies allow individuals to be married to more than one person at the same time. Polygyny involves a man having multiple wives, while polyandry involves a woman having multiple husbands.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polygamous societies are those in which individuals can be married to more than one person at the same time. Polygyny is a form of polygamy where a man is married to multiple women, while polyandry is a form of polygamy where a woman is married to multiple men. The prevalence of polygamous societies is influenced by factors such as population growth, religious ideologies, and social status.