A Penny Saved is a Partner Earned: The Romantic Appeal of Savers
Jenny G. Olson
University of Michigan - Ross School of Business
Scott Rick
University of Michigan - Ross School of Business
June 5, 2013
Abstract:
The desire to attract a romantic partner often
stimulates conspicuous consumption, but we find that people who
chronically save are more romantically attractive than people who
chronically spend. Saving up to make a particular purchase also enhances
one’s romantic appeal, as long as the planned purchase is not
materialistic. Savers are viewed as possessing greater general
self-control than spenders, and this perception mediates the
relationship between spending habits and attractiveness. Because general
self-control also encourages healthy behaviors that promote physical
attractiveness, savers are viewed as more physically attractive as well.
However, general self-control is not always coveted in potential mates:
dispositional and situational factors that increase the need for
stimulation reduce the preference for savers. Nevertheless, capitalizing
on the general preference for savers over spenders, people are more
likely to deceptively describe themselves as savers when completing a
dating profile than when completing a private questionnaire. Our work
sheds light on how a fundamental consumption behavior (spending and
saving decisions) influences the formation of romantic relationships.
Number of Pages in PDF File: 51
Keywords: Decision Making, Interpersonal Relationships, Shopping, Consumer Behavior, Consumer Financial Decision Making, Attraction
In addition to the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, Ann Arbor is also known for some bubonic chronic. I don't know if the two facts are related.
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