Notes:
marriage, a socially constructed relationship that assumes financial and sexual cooperation between two people
family, a group of people connected by blood, marriage, adoption, or agreed upon relationship
courtship, seeking an individual’s affection or establishing contractual terms, usually with the intent of forming a long-term relationship
Homogamy, marrying or establishing a relationship with someone with similar social and economic characteristics
cohabitation, a residential pattern in which a couple lives together without the benefit of legal marriage
monogamy, a marriage between two people
serial monogamy, a marriage pattern in which one person has multiple spouses but not at the same time.
polyamory, intimate relationships with multiple partners, with the informed consent of all partners
Polygamy, a legally sanctioned or illegal marital relationship in which one person has more than one husband or wife at the same time
patriarchal, lines of descent traced through the paternal side of the family and characterized by male dominance
Polygyny, a legally sanctioned or illegal marital relationship in which one man has multiple wives
matriarchal, lines of descent traced through the maternal side of the family
covenant marriages, a legally binding marriage requiring pre-marital counseling, and more limited grounds for divorce
endogamy, marrying or establishing a relationship within one’s own social group or category, as required by custom or law.
exogamy, marrying or establishing a relationship outside one’s social group or category