Supermonogamy

The notion of soulmates reinforces the myth of supermonogamy.

Plato's tale colorfully captures the potent fantasy of absolute monogamy, of supermonogamy, the vision of a unique and permanent bond between two individuals.

Indeed, whether the mainstream idealizes "supermonogamy" and practices "serial monogamy," there is a parallel system of "pretend monogamy" based on secret affairs outside the official monogamous union that are occurring concurrently.

Going back to our theory about happiness, it might be fair to say that supermonogamy has made "perfect the enemy of the good." If people are not happy they feel comfortable or entitled to look elsewhere; they no longer feel constrained by an initial choice.