Final answer:
Successful marriages are characterized by good communication, shared values and interests, and commitment, rather than good debating skills. These elements foster understanding and partnership, contributing to the stability and success of the marital relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
Successful marriages have all of the following characteristics except good debating skills. While good communication, shared values and interests, and commitment are essential components of a healthy marriage, good debating skills are not necessarily required. In a marriage, productive communication is more about understanding and supporting each other rather than winning arguments or debates.
Marriage serves as a means to structure a family unit, allowing for the upbringing and nurturing of offspring. It creates a socio-economic partnership characterized by shared labor and resources, and is augmented by shared cultural backgrounds and values. Despite cultural variations, including those between monogamous and polygamous societies, the core principles of a successful marriage often include good communication and a shared life between the partners.
It's important to note that while debating skills could be useful in some aspects of a relationship, they are not among the core characteristics that make a marriage successful. Rather, it's the ability to share, communicate effectively, and commit to one another that typically defines the success of a marital union.