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.
close enough!
Oooo !
Not necessarily, my hairdresser is the only man I know who drives a red vette and he is a little light in the loafers. Good hairdresser tho”.
Well, you do go to him to get your hair done.
LOL yes I do, he is the best and I need all the help I can get.
I think in the not too near future, unless something changes, no one will be driving anything, so women will be looking at the sort of horse he can handle... ;)
Or maybe...
lol..no kidding
one day we will all be walking ..wearing palm leaves again and walking rescue dogs
Real men drive Jeep Wranglers.
The good ones like my Bentley...
Maybe sooner than we think (and eating only vegetables (I refuse to say veggies on principal).
Actually, real men drive whatever they want and don’t care a whit about what anyone thinks about it.
Uber Goat.
:)
A truck and you are dirty,woot woot!
Thankfully, you got your man car at an older age, and after you acquired the beautiful wife.
Just so you don’t let the man child think he’s getting your car...and not because of this thread.
He needs a KIA first. ;o)
My tractor has a front loader and a rear tiller. Do I have a chance?
No?
O.K., I also have a mid tine tiller to use on smaller spaces. And a self-propelled mower. And a riding mower! Are you impressed yet?
No?
O.K., I also have a gas powered string trimmer. And an electric hedge trimmer. And several pairs of pliers, and some scissors. Impressed yet?
Nope.
They only made a *few* Vettes I’ll even bother to turn my head for and they’re all the early ones.
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