Not surprisingly, a new study confirms that money is an important factor that influences the development of romantic relationships. The study examined how the feeling of having relatively more or less money influences human mating strategies in long-term and short-term mating contexts under the framework of evolutionary psychology. Researchers recruited mainland Chinese college students involved in steady, heterosexual romantic relationships to participate in two experiments. In each study, they experimentally triggered participants' feelings of having relatively more or less money and then examined their thoughts and behaviors related to mating. Results of Study 1 showed that men who were primed to feel that they had relatively more money were less satisfied with their partners' physical attractiveness than those primed to feel that they had less money, suggesting that the subjective feeling of having more or less money may affect men's preferences regarding the physical appearance of a mate in a long-term relationship. Interestingly, this difference was not significant for women. Results of Study 2 indicated that both men and women who were primed to feel that they had relatively more money exhibited a greater “behavioral approach tendency” toward an attractive member of the opposite sex than those primed to feel that they had less money. This finding suggests that people who feel they have relatively more money may have more interest in an attractive alternative than those who feel they have relatively less money. The differences in mating strategies between and within the genders brought about by money support the evolutionary hypothesis that individuals adopt conditional mating strategies in response to environmental conditions. Additionally, the results of experimental studies provide evidence for the causal effects of money on mating strategies. These findings have both conceptual and practical implications for the psychology of evolution and romantic relationships. http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00387/full
This is surprisingly rational though for such an emotion-heavy process. If you are (at least, if you think you are) wealthy, you can deal with bad outcomes of "adventures" better than if you are poor. Losing a partner, particularly a wealthy partner, is more problematic for poor persons than for rich persons. So it is surprisingly rational that the ones who feel relatively poor, avoid dangers to their partnership, while the ones who feel well-situated are more willing to take risks. I'm kinda surprised to see so much rational bahevaiour here, but well, it's a good sign I think Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I've spent most of my life with a bountiful income, but I have never regarded my spouse as "a partner." She's part of my life; she's part of ME!
