Essay on the theories of origin of marriage

The theories about the origin of family are generally applicable to the origin of marriage as well. However, the social anthropologists have sometimes separately discussed the origin of marriage and presented various theories.

Most of the social anthropologists agree that the institution of marriage has gradually evolved in human societies, not only from primitive to civilized society but also in the primitive societies as well.

According to Morgan, in the beginning there was no marriage institution among human beings. There was complete promiscuity and freedom in sex relationships. The theory of early promiscuity among human beings however, has not been proved by sufficient evidence.

Therefore some other social anthropologists believe that some sort of marriage institution is always found in every human society. Evidence is available about the custom of group marriages in the primitive tribes of Brazil, Siberia and Australia, etc. However, in these societies also there is no evidence of early stage of promiscuity.

Similarly, in some tribes on some occasions there may be some exchange of mates but it cannot be equated with absolute promiscuity in sex relationships. For example, even among the most primitive Indian tribes like Kadar, Paliyan, Chenchu, Birhor and the Andamanese, there is no evidence of promiscuity at any time.

However, in the evolution of marriage the stage of promiscuity appears to be sufficiently logical since everywhere the human social institutions nave started and evolved gradually. Therefore, inspite of lack of sufficient empirical evidence, it is natural to believe in the hypothetical possibility of the early promiscuity in human societies. In fact where empirical evidence is impossible, the general laws of logic may be made the basis of suitable hypothesis. This principle is clearly in favour of the idea that the early human society must have been promiscuous. According to Morgan from the stage of promiscuity, human society evolved to the stage of group marriages.

In this stage all the brothers of a family used to marry all the sisters of another family so that every male was equally the husband of every female and vice-versa. Another stage in the evolution of marriage is usual monogamy with sufficient freedom to establish extra marital relationships particularly with the female members of the bride’s family. In the last stage of the evolution of marriage the male could marry more than one woman.

Thus according to Morgan the stage of monogamy precedes polygamy. Westermark has however vehemently opposed this view while Bachofen has supported Morgan. According to Bachofen the early stage was promiscuous.

As population increased, the means of subsistence became scarce and the numerical balance of males and females was disrupted due to killing of girls in some societies. This led to polyandry. The progress in agriculture led to the establishment of more prosperous agriculturist males permanently living at one place.

They were encouraged to take recourse to polygamy. Condemning the above mentioned views Westermark has maintained that only one type of m arriage is available in animal and hunjan societies and that is monogamy. Clearly, this is an extreme view particularly in the face of the findings of contemporary psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists about human nature.

In fact it is difficult to establish any theory in this field. However some sort of evolution must be admitted.