Final answer:
Monogamy is the marriage of only one individual to one partner at a time and is common in mobile and adaptable societies, including the recognition of same-sex marriages. Polygamy permits more than one spouse simultaneously, with polygyny (one man with multiple women) being more common than polyandry (one woman with multiple men). Polygamous marriages reflect cultural diversity and can be affected by societal stresses or serve as a status symbol.
Step-by-step explanation:
Monogamy is a system of marriage where one individual is married to only one partner at a time. This system is seen as especially well-suited to societies where family units are mobile or need to be adaptable, such as nomadic communities or postindustrial societies. Additionally, monogamy encompasses same-sex marriages, which have been legally recognized in many countries around the world, including the United States following the Obergefell v. Hodges case in June 2015.
In contrast, polygamy is a marital arrangement that allows individuals to have more than one spouse simultaneously. Most polygamous societies exist in northern Africa and east Asia and usually practice polygyny, where one man is married to multiple women. Despite being less common, polyandry, where one woman is married to multiple men, does occur in about 1 percent of the world's cultures.
It is important to note that while monogamy is the standard in Western societies, polygamous relationships may begin as two-person marriages and can evolve into larger families. This evolution can sometimes indicate social status, or in certain cases, be a response to extreme societal stresses like warfare, lack of resources, or imbalanced gender ratios as a result of famines or high mortality rates.