From Jon (j hlo ux@a tt.n et):

Re: Was blackmail essential for marriage to evolve? (Dec. 2): Interesting article on marriage and blackmail, however I think another dynamic is at work. Since evolution is about exploitation, the question must be, what is being exploited? If marriage is a foundation institution of civilization, along with altruism and cooperation, then it is the very institution of society that is being exploited. Human beings have been self domesticating for millenia. We have become so domesticated that we cannot live without the social structure that we draw upon and contribute to.

I wrote an essay about this domestication called Well Governed Sharks that you may find interesting (see here).

Jon