Final answer:
An arranged marriage is when the choice of a spouse is made by individuals other than the bride and groom, often involving families or third parties. Marriage customs vary widely among different societies and can include monogamy and polygamy, reflecting diverse social and cultural norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
An arranged marriage is a type of marriage where the selection of the spouse is outside the control of the bride and groom. In many cultures, marriages are more than just a union of two individuals; they are considered an intricate process involving interviews and negotiations between families, or conducted through third parties, such as matchmakers or marriage brokers. These practices contrast with the idea of exogamous marriages, which are unions of spouses from different social categories, and endogamous marriages, where partners are chosen within the same social or cultural group.
Ideas about marriage vary widely across different societies and cultures and can include monogamy, where a union is typically between two adults, and polygamy, involving more than two adults. The concept of marriage continues to evolve, with changes influenced by socioeconomic developments, shifts in cultural norms, and the availability of new forms of communication that connect people of diverse backgrounds.