Final answer:
Polygamy, and more specifically polygyny, is the most widespread marriage pattern culturally, though it involves a minority of men in those cultures. Monogamy is prevalent in Western societies due to their mobile family units and industrialized nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
In terms of the number of cultures who use it, polygamy has been the most common marriage pattern in the world. Polygamy, specifically polygyny, where one man has multiple wives, prevails in many cultures due to factors like population growth, social status, and food-getting strategies. Despite this, monogamy remains the dominant form in Western societies. Anthropologists categorize marriage mainly as monogamy or polygamy.
Historically, polygamy has been more prevalent due to various reasons such as the beneficial role children play in labor-intensive societies. However, in modern urban settings and particularly Western cultures, monogamy better suits the mobile family units that have adapted to industrialized societies. While the incidence of polygamous marriages is substantial across cultures, it often involves a minority of the population, usually affluent and high-status men.