"You have to ask?"
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.
Proves the old addage that the ride can get a guy a first date, but after that he’s on his own.
“
I guess the guy she married was the best part of my luck
She dug him cause he drove a pickup truck.
[Refrain:]
And I guess I owe it all to Pamela Brown
All of my good times, all my roamin’ around
One of these days I might be in your town
And I guess I owe it all to Pamela Brown
“
—Tom T Hall, but one of Leo Kottke’s signature tunes.
Honda Civics, not so much.
Willam F, or Tim?
So it does work!
Interestingly, married or not.
I’m a guy and what I have found to be attractive to women is self-discipline and hard work. It matters not what car you drive.
Why did they have to fund a study for this? I could have introduced them to a half-dozen women who have married impulsive, conspicuous spenders and lived to regret it.
Or a really ugly chick with great bod................
"You have to ask?"
Men who drive pickup trucks are sexy.
Yep, Manly men:) And women who desire only men with porsches are materialistic and are good only for arm candy. Although, that is all some men with Porsches are looking for.
Hey now, I drive a Civic......oh, I guess that proves your point.
Oh hell yes, they do.
I noticed the difference on days I drove my Porsche than days I drove my four door BMW.
I went looking at Jeeps over at the dealers' with my wife and infant grandson in the car. Wife looked after the grandson while the sales babe showed me a bunch of pretty kewl vehicles. I got to talking about the Army and the Jeeps I used to drive. I could not escape the suspicion that the forty-ish sales babe was really into sixty something Vietnam era vets who drove jeeps. I don't think it was a professional put on, she really seemed to dig salt and pepper guys who loved Jeeps. I didn't get one though.
About the same time, I also talked to my wife about buying a convertible Miata MX-5. She told me, "OK, but I'm not getting in it with you." I said, "If I had a convertible red Miata, I wouldn't have any problem finding someone to get in it with me." She didn't respond, but I could see her feelings were hurt. Guess what, I didn't get the Miata, either.
Metrosexuals drive Porches . .
You mean like Steve McQueen?
Harley’s are ok - as long as they aren’t newer than about 1972 and are Sportsters
hey I drive a Porsche and it hasn’t helped me any. Of course I have been married 26 yrs and my wife would take half of everything if I strayed so maybe that has something to do with it.
My 1979 RX-7 got a look or two.
Oh I like you already - wink wink
Show me a guy in a ‘68 HemiCuda or HemiCharger and then I’ll look.
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Cuda’s didn’t come with hemi’s until the new bodystyle in 1970 except for “off road” only racers that were made in VERY limited quantities... The best you could get in a 68 Cuda (unless you were campaigning in SS NHRA racing) was the 383 B motor and even then it was a VERY tight fit and was down bigtime on power compared to the same engine in a full size or a Charger because of the restricted exhaust...
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