Posted on 07/18/2011 1:01:01 PM PDT by null and void
New research finds that men’s conspicuous spending is driven by the desire to have uncommitted romantic flings. And, gentlemen, women can see right through it. Study shows that flashy spending may work for the short term but not for marriage. Just as peacocks flaunt their tails before potential mates, men may flaunt flashy products to charm potential dates. Notably, not all men favored this strategy – just those men who were interested in short-term sexual relationships with women.
The series of studies, "Peacocks, Porsches and Thorstein Veblen: Conspicuous Consumption as a Sexual Signaling System," was conducted with nearly 1,000 test subjects and published recently in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The research was performed by faculty at Rice University, the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) and the University of Minnesota.
"This research suggests that conspicuous products, such as Porsches, can serve the same function for some men that large and brilliant feathers serve for peacocks," said Jill Sundie, assistant professor of marketing at UTSA and lead author of the paper.
"The studies show that some men are like peacocks. They’re the ones driving the bright colored sports car," said co-author Vladas Griskevicius, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota.
According to the researchers, women found a man who chose to purchase a flashy luxury product (such as a Porsche) more desirable than the same man who purchased a non-luxury item (such as a Honda Civic). However, there was a catch: although women found the flashy men more desirable for a date, the man with the Porsche was not preferred as a marriage partner. Women inferred from a man's flashy spending that he was interested in uncommitted sex.
"When women considered him for a long-term relationship, owning the sports car held no advantage relative to owning an economy car," said co-author Daniel Beal, assistant professor of psychology at Rice. "People may feel that owning flashy things makes them more attractive as a relationship partner, but in truth, many men might be sending women the wrong message."
Though often associated with Western culture, extreme forms of conspicuous displays have been found in cultures across the globe and throughout history. While finding that men may use conspicuous consumption as a short-term mating signal, the researchers discovered that women don't behave in the same manner and don’t conspicuously spend to attract men. "Obviously, women also spend plenty of money on expensive things," Sundie said. "But the anticipation of romance doesn't trigger flashy spending as it does with some men."
Other co-authors of the study are Kathleen Vohs, University of Minnesota; Douglas Kenrick, Arizona State University; and Joshua Tybur, University of New Mexico.
http://gqconnects.com/lowdown_maserati.asp
Here’s info on the testoterone increase in women while listening to a maserati V8 (at 333 Hz). Sound available as a ringtone too!!!!! (Here honey - and make sure you keep your phone in your pocket.)
That’s a cool story!
That brings back some memories.
“A woman would be more attracted to a red ‘vette than a Porshie.”
Unless she was a conservative woman who wants nothing to do with Government Motors.
Let me put it this way; don’t ever go to a Dodge dealership and start things off by saying “So, is this *really* a Hemi?”
LOL
Yes a 917.
My mom was a mail carrier for decades and one her of ‘mail cars’ was a craptastic Dodge Dart.
I hated driving that thing.
*Now* just the body and frame bring a small fortune from the street rodders who drop huge block engines into them and do obscenely well at the local drag strip.
Go figger.
Don’t own a Dodge - 2 Ford P/U’s, A jeep, the stupid minivan, and the wife’s mustang.
Can’t afford another car, and it would be silly.
But man, I hate that minivan.
LOL.
“Useful”
:)
Yeah, but I’ll bet he’s having great sex now.
You're not going to duplicate Italian engineering so easily, paisan.
Yup, altho the advert for Jaguar was MUCH funnier than the Porche one.
I can’t say that I blame you.
I’ve had to drive horrid things owned by the ex, out of necessity, that made my skin crawl [the Subaru station wagon comes first to mind] but thank God, I’ve never even had to get into a mini-van, much less drive one...:))
The new hubby, praise be, is a rod and motorcycle building greaser from way back and only buys non-humiliating stuff to drive.
One fun thing I do involves boats. Cigarettes, Fountains, Bajas, Skaters, etc. There are no cops offshore. No stop lights. It’s just go fast and burn gas. Some females seem to be attracted to these toys. No doubt about that. But that’s not the reason to buy one. They are fun and the technology is interesting. At 90 mph+ also very exciting at times.
Best I can tell, you only live once. Why go slow?
LOL
Great answer!
Well, yes, and no - see, here is the funny thing - I keep doing a requirements definition on what we need to replace the humiliating mini-van - and the answer is, a mini-van.
It gets the best milage of all our cars - 24, as compared to 18 for the mustang, 18 for the little trck, 18 for the jeep, and 12 for the big truck.
Given that I just did a 4000 mile road trip, that matters.
It is the only car we have, that can do a family road-trip in one car - eg, a trip to the cabin, or to FL on vacation. Without it, we have to take two cars.
It has video and whatnot for the kids. That matters.
If I had to replace it, my best bet would be a chevy suburban, except for 3 problems...
they cost $65,000.00
They get about 10 MPG
They are made by Government Motors
So, drive a minivan I will, and to heck with it.
Useful is GOOD.
I was once married to a guy who was use-less.
The second time around, I married a guy who could fix everything *and* a broken heart.
:)
“I found that part interesting. Are men really looking for marriage partners?”
Yep, in many cases when it’s waaaaay too late.
The last vehicle I bought was Yukon.
I can haul half a dozen dogs and 2 goats, if need be.
My requirements are much less complex than yours...:)
The gas mileage sucks but if I want that, the Harleys get 40+ mpg.
[A really, really fun 40+mpg hauling nothing but @ss]...LOL
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