University of Michigan researcher Daniel Kruger tested a hypothesis that men will overspend to attract women. Sampling adults aged 18-45 he found that the spending habits of men was dependent on the future mating possibilities of those men. However, that was not the case for women.
"Men in the ancestral environment were valued if they were good providers. Now we have this new consumer culture, so basically we show our potential through the consumer goods that we purchase, rather than being a good hunter or providing protection," Kruger said.
"It gives an ultimate explanation for why we feel we have to keep up with the Joneses. Especially for guys, our position in the social hierarchy is based on our resources. Economic success has traditionally been good for men's reproductive success, so men have an incentive to show that they are doing well economically."
So where does the current economic downturn come into play?
"It is partially a result of our economic system and recent financial policies, but I really do think that our evolved mating strategies have an influence. Our competition for economic displays drives our consumer economy and culture of affluence," he said. "In terms of the current mortgage crisis, the findings suggest that one of the reasons why we overextend ourselves is that we're basically in a status race. We have expectations that spiral upward as people make more money and everyone wants to show that they are better than average."
So what this all means in plain terms is that men will spend more if they desire to be with several women over the course of a year. The thought is the more you spend, the more you impress, the more she will want to sleep with you.
But that Corvette your thinking about buying to impress that chick at the stop light... umm yeah, not gonna work that's cheesy and very 70's. There is also studies about size and the kind of car you drive... and well, we won't go their today.
[UMICH News Service]
I can live for two months on a good compliment.
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