Final answer:
Polygyny involves one man with multiple wives and is common globally, often tied to social and economic benefits. Polyandry involves one woman with multiple husbands and is rare, usually linked to controlling population growth and managing resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between polygyny and polyandry is based on the gender of the individual with multiple spouses. Polygyny is a form of polygamy where one man is married to more than one woman at the same time. This form of marriage is more common and is found worldwide. It is often related to social status and economic advantages within societies. On the other hand, polyandry is where one woman is married to more than one man at the same time. It is much rarer, found in only about 1 percent of the world's cultures, and is practiced in places where it helps to address issues such as population control and division of scarce resources.
The main difference between polygyny and polyandry is that polygyny occurs when one male mates with multiple females, while polyandry occurs when one female mates with multiple males.
Polygyny is the more common form of polygamy and is found worldwide. In polygynous households, each wife commonly lives in her own house with her own biological children, but the family unit cooperates together to share resources and provide childcare. On the other hand, polyandry is comparatively rare and may occur in societies where there is a temporary surplus of males or scarcity of resources.
Overall, the key difference lies in the gender arrangement of the individuals involved in the polygamous relationship.