The Wright Show cover image

The Wright Show

Marriage on the Rocks (Robert Wright & Conn Carroll)

Dec 19, 2024
Conn Carroll, author of "Sex and the Citizen" and former communications director for Senator Mike Lee, discusses the direct link between marriage and democracy. He delves into historical shifts in marital norms, exploring why the West embraced monogamy and its impact on societal equality. Carroll highlights how monogamous structures promote democratic ideals while contrasting them with practices in polygamous societies. Their conversation also touches on media's role in shaping views on marriage today, weaving in cultural reflections from works like 'Sex and the City'.
01:00:00

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast explores the historical evolution of marriage, highlighting how shifts from promiscuity to monogamy shaped human relationships and societal norms.
  • It emphasizes the significant mental health benefits of marriage, linking stable family structures to lower rates of depression and community well-being.

Deep dives

A Historical Perspective on Marriage

The discussion elaborates on the evolution of marriage throughout human history, dividing it into three significant sexual revolutions. The first revolution transitioned humanity from promiscuity to monogamy, creating a crucial aspect that defined human relationships. Following this, the shift from hunter-gatherer societies to agrarian ones led to polygamous norms, predominantly from the accumulation of wealth and power by a few men. The final revolution, emerging with the spread of Christianity, saw a return to monogamy established as the cultural norm through various historical and societal changes.

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