What Are We Looking For In Relationships?

The availability of the opposite sex affects behavior

. In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, male students who were told there was a scarcity of females on campus were willing to pay $6.01 more for a Valentine gift and $278 more for an engagement ring. In a second study of 143 cities, when women were scarce, men cut into their savings rate by 42% and increased credit card debt 84%. However, when women were told there was a scarcity of men, they were likelier to choose higher-paying careers. It seems men are more scared by scarcity.

Stressed-out men prefer heavier women. In a study published in PLoS ONE, 81 men ages 18-42 were divided into 2 groups. One group performed 5 minutes of public speaking, followed by counting backward from 1,022 by 13's. The other group rested in a quiet room. When all the men were shown 10 photos of women ranging in size from emaciated to obese, the stressed-out men preferred plumper women. Supposedly, this is due to early man wanting a heavier mate because she was likelier to survive and be fertile longer. As a result, today's stressed-out men make "weightier" decisions about women.

Men who shave their heads are considered more masculine than men with thinning hair. In fact, 3 studies published in the journal Social Psychology & Personality Science found, on average, men with shaved heads were thought to be 1 inch taller and able to bench 15 more pounds than other men. This could be because of association with stereotypically masculine professions, the influence of Hollywood movie stars or the perception that men with shaved heads are going against the norms of society. Although it takes self-confidence for a man to shave his head, it's not a "hair-raising" experience.

Although the overall divorce rate is going down in 2012, the divorce rate among people 50 and over - referred to as "gray divorces" - has more than doubled in the past 2 decades. This is according to a study featured in The Wall Street Journal. The increase is attributed to the Boomer generation being the first to marry for personal fulfillment - not for financial reasons or because society expected it. Interestingly, women are initiating 66% of divorces. That's because they are now in the workforce and can be economically independent. Even among people married 30-40 years, divorce has a "gray area".

by: Knight Pierce Hirst

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