Good date gift: expensive but worthless
British researchers say if men believe they are frittering away their money wining and dining a girl to win her hand, they should think again.
Peter Sozou and Professor Robert Seymour of University College London say they've developed a mathematical model that shows how expensive, but worthless, gifts may help facilitate courtship.
The scientists said their study shows gifts can act as a signal of a man's intention. And offering an expensive gift may signal a long-term commitment -- but the man must be wary of being exploited by a gold-digger who intends to dump him once she gets the gift.
They determined an extravagant gift, which is costly to the man but worthless to the woman -- such as a dinner or show tickets -- may solve the problem since a costly gift signals the man has long-term intentions, but the gift deters gold-diggers by being worthless.
The study is detailed in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International
The scientists said their study shows gifts can act as a signal of a man's intention. And offering an expensive gift may signal a long-term commitment -- but the man must be wary of being exploited by a gold-digger who intends to dump him once she gets the gift.
They determined an extravagant gift, which is costly to the man but worthless to the woman -- such as a dinner or show tickets -- may solve the problem since a costly gift signals the man has long-term intentions, but the gift deters gold-diggers by being worthless.
The study is detailed in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International
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