When men shouldn't be in want of a wife

Whatever the reason, socially prescribed monogamy and its ultimate cultural expression, marriage, may have emerged because of the evolutionary benefits that both offer. By providing men with increased assurance that their wives' children are their true heirs and women with the confidence that their kids will benefit from a decent inheritance, monogamous marriage is a win-win situation. This view challenges theories of marriage that emphasise the role of religion and the societal benefits of keeping men from fighting over women. The emergence of social monogamy - where monogamyis socially enforced and polygamy is forbidden - is a mystery. New Scientist