Posted on 04/25/2006 5:06:56 AM PDT by billorites
It seems that the more macho a man is — at least according to his hormones — the more the sight of an attractive woman will affect his judgement.
Researchers at the University of Leuven in Belgium asked men to play an ultimatum game, in which they split a certain amount of money between them. High-testosterone men drove the hardest bargain — unless they had previously viewed pictures of bikini-clad models, in which case they were more likely to accept a poorer deal.
The sight of flesh had less effect on the bargaining tactics of low-testosterone men.
The testosterone dose that interested the researchers was that encountered by their participants when developing in the womb. This can be measured by comparing the lengths of the index and ring fingers — a relatively long ring finger is a sign of a high-testosterone man.
For these men, even handling a bra was enough to sap their resolve, report economists Bram Van den Bergh and Siegfried Dewitte, who publish their findings in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B1. Pictures of landscapes or elderly women, or handling a t-shirt, had no effect on the men's steely bartering power.
Alluring ads
The discovery might help to explain advertisers' reliance on sexy women to hawk their products, the researchers speculate. "Commercials and advertisements are populated with beautiful and sexy women, but the consequences on cognitive processes of males had not been fully investigated," Van den Bergh says.
This is not the first study to show the effect of a well-turned ankle on male behaviour. For example, the sight of a beautiful woman makes men more likely to accept a small cash sum up front rather than a larger one later, perhaps so as to appear wealthy straight away (see 'Women addle men's maths').
But that doesn't explain why sultry sirens can sell anything from computers to carving knives. Perhaps men faced with an attractive woman just don't strive so hard for a good deal, Van den Bergh suggests.
Fight for fairness
In the game, one player, the proposer, was given 10 euros and had to offer a cut to the other, the responder, who had already secretly declared the minimum he would accept. If the offer is less than this minimum, both players get nothing.
As something is always better than nothing, one would expect the responder to set his sights low, leaving the proposer safe to make a paltry offer. But the responder's pride and an aggressive sense of fairness often leave both players out of pocket.
High-testosterone men fight hardest for a large cut, the researchers found. But the most testosterone-driven men were also the most likely to slacken their cash demands after viewing sexy women. Perhaps they relaxed and began to care less about money. Or perhaps, the researchers suggest, with a 'mate' to impress the men were driven to have some wealth, however modest.
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The sight of a potential mate might therefore actually make men more sensible, Van den Bergh says. "Since a few coins is better than no coins at all, men thus become more economically rational after exposure to lingerie or sexy women," he says.
well that just stinks.......
I need a macho kinda man...I have NO PATIENCE for men not willing to go toe-to-toe with me....
but I also want a guy not so inclined to gawk at hoochie mammas.....
oh boy.....
Good news is....I saved money....er I mean......At least I like being single...
;-)
So where's the pictures?
The sight of a potential mate might therefore actually make men more sensible
Did this study actually determine anything? I think the "researchers" must've been enamored with the hot chicks, too, based on these ambiguous findings.
Are we allowed to post Nature articles here?
You understand what you’ve just describe in your ideal mate is a perfect collection of competing goals.
A woman is imbued with countless charms, unfortunately reason is not one of them.
Who paid for this study?
Ring finger length as a measure of testosterone? Give me a break.
It seems that the more macho a man is — at least according to his hormones — the more the sight of an attractive woman will affect his judgement.
I think what you want is a man born with a machismo dial on the back of his neck. Full machismo to the right and sissy to the left.
Good luck. My wife tried to install one. It broke and I was none to happy about the scar.
P.C. Editing error:There, fixed it.The sight of flesh had less effect on the bargaining tactics of low-testosterone men.Should read...The sight of flesh had less effect on the bargaining tactics of gays.
LOL!!!!!
Hey- a gal wants- what a gal wants....
I want a knuckle dragging Neanderthall......that isn't interested in having sex with every other woman that walks by!
like I said....good think I am happy being single!!!
;-)
LOL!!
No sissy at all!!!!
I like macho...but I also like honesty and fidelity...
I'm CONSERVATIVE like that...
;-)
it didn't hurt when it broke did it?????
They're out there, I know, I married one. I absolutely melt when he walks into the room.
why oh why do i never ever get invited to be on these types of RESEARCH groups...i mean who pays for this research? jeeze why do u need to research something we already know...ask any 14 year guy and up....
but I also want a guy not so inclined to gawk at hoochie mammas.....
Translation: You wanna have your cake and eat it too. Well guess what! So do we :-P It's how God made us.
Whatever happened to "would you like to come up to my room and look at my etchings?"
Shocking! Is this why guys go to strip clubs, pay ridiculous prices for drinks, throw money at the girls, and leave wondering "why she doesn't like me for me?"
I hear you. The ability to speak intelligibly is the first thing to go, too!
[I don’t know how macho I am, but I have met women who were just so beautiful and sensual that my brain seemed to turn to mush.]
STORY TIME! :o)
Years ago, I was a concrete finisher (construction). We did some high end fancy concrete pool decks for a landscaper and pool company. On one particularly hot afternoon, we had finished placing the concrete and were taking a break in the shade of the residence garage waiting for the concrete to set up. On the day we were doing this work, the owner had a rather large family get together. Many cars and a lot of people going in and out. Apparently one of the family's children was a Pacemate (Pacer cheerleader). As we relaxed in the shade of the garage, waiting for the concrete to set up for finishing, the Pacemate, fresh from a charity event and in uniform, casually but directly asked me, "How long until it gets hard?" Like a scene from a movie, I froze in an apparent jaw dropping, drooling sweat. A co-worker had to explain that they could walk on it the next day but not to put any furniture on it for a week.
I forgot what we were negotiating about.
Sure, take as much money as you want.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
THAT'S GREAT!!!!!!
LOL!
well.....enjoy! but no eating this cake..
;-)
"I need a macho kinda man...I have NO PATIENCE for men not willing to go toe-to-toe with me.... "
I will go toe to toe with any beautiful women to pound out a deal and will drive for the best deal in other positions as well ;-)
oooooh! Now I like that!!!
maybe when a man cannot go toe-to-toe with me intellectually, I will just tell myself that her really is brilliant...
it is just my stunning sexuality that disarms him....
Yeah- I think I can live with that...
;-D
ROFLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well that's good news, b/c I always see interesting stuff in there, but I assumed since the online subscriptions are so expensive, they wouldn't allow it.
LOL! I mean HE really is brilliant...
oy! too early in the morning... need more coffee...my brilliance is showing...
;-)
What a silly statement. She was expressing a preference not doing algebra
BTW You'll be a lot happier if you don't try to always understand the "mystery" of women.
Just enjoy the difference
;>)
I tried it, but she wasn't too impressed with my William Tell rendition.
I am getting the distinct impression that you are rather aroused by this thread. You like attention. You need attention. You want to be sought after. You want to be worshiped. You want to be wined, dined and ..........
(This is a family channel)
;o)
"She's so fine,
There's no tellin' where the
Money went!"
Although now that I follow your link, it seems I can access all the articles without logging in. Maybe I am thinking about 'Science' magazine.
Handling a bra usually gets my attention.
You don't think they were talking about an EMPTY bra, do you?
Yeah, right? Some guys waste all their testosterone growing their ring fingers.
Well, at least you can buy a bra to make your"self" appear a certian way, and then get mad at every man who notices. Until, that is, the "right" man looks. Us guys don't get worked up about getting checked out, unless it's another "dude".
Hehehe, if true, be wary of business negotiations done in a strip club...someone attempting to hustle you.
Yep....you might as well face it....
:)
High-testosterone men
[BTW You'll be a lot happier if you don't try to always understand the "mystery" of women.]
I call foul! It is not men that seek to understand women. Men gave up and work within the parameters of the unknown. Man invented the "shrug" to deal with the mysteries of women.
On the other hand, men are as simple creatures as there can be. My wife wants asked me while on a vacation drive, "What are you thinking?" I explained to here that I was wondering where you would find a replacement bumper for a '68 corvette and what it would cost. She asked me why I had to be a smart Xss. I was confused. Do not over complicate our thoughts, intentions, what we say or why we do what we do.
LOL
LOL!!!
none of those things sound so bad!
;-)
gotta run to work!!
see-- a good neanderthall wouldn't LET me work!
;-0
LOL!!!!
GREAT POINT!
I LOVE IT!
Well, duh.
And this is news????? Advertisers have known this for years.
No problem, LOL
Well, it is a sexy picture to me, too!
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