An interesting subplot in the culture of sexual fidelity is (IMO) the cultural promotion of multiple sequential relationships. The most culturally acceptable m

An interesting subplot in the culture of sexual fidelity is (IMO) the cultural promotion of multiple sequential relationships. The most culturally acceptable middle class sex life today involves a series of monogomous relationships. We're encouraged to start young with practice relationships (ideally stopping short of "real sex") for teenagers, which are expected to end. Then, a variety of relationships ranging from one nighters to multi-year relationships anyone from the past would have called marriage. Variety is generally valued. Then Marriage(s). My GreatGrandmother would have raised eyebrows at all this. Even though sexual norms have radically shifted during this time, our view of fidelity remained kind of static. Promiscuity good, infidelity bad. The culture surrounding sex is among the most complex in the human repertoire, but such a shift on promiscuity without a shift on infidelity seems like an oddity of our culture, probably a short term one.