New Publication: Induced Mate Abundance Increases Women’s Expectations for Engagement Ring Size and

New research from my colleagues at Nipissing Univesity and I was published online today in Evolutionary Psychological Science. This new research examines how priming operational sex ratio may increase preferences for engagement ring size in women. In evolutionary psychological research, gift-giving is a strategic way for males to attract and maintain female mates in both long and short term contexts (Buss, 1989; Saad & Gill, 2003). An engagement ring can be used as a signal of males' resources and their commitment to their mate (Miller, 2007). Yet, little research has examined mate availability's effect on women's preferences for engagement ring size. This study examines whether priming women with mate availability (abundance versus scarcity) would affect their expectations for the cost and size of an engagement ring. Our results suggest that women who were primed with mate abundance are more likely to prefer larger and more expensive engagement rings than women primed with mate scarcity. To read the article, check it out at the link below: https://link-springer-com.proxy.library.carleton.ca/article/10.1007%2Fs40806-019-00214-z