Wife vs. Mistress: Who do men spend more money on? The results of the study will surprise you

It is widely believed that men spend much more on gifts for their lovers than for their wives. However, a recent study led by Olivia James, a graduate student at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Kyla Williams, an assistant professor of psychology at Hamilton College, challenges this notion.

The authors of the study became particularly interested in studying this topic after hearing a wildlife biologist talk about the gift patterns of fairy wrens, birds found in Australia. These birds have the same relationship patterns as humans – monogamous and non-pair relationships. It was observed that when it came to extra-pair relationships, the male fairy wren presented the female with a flower petal to express his interest, while this behavior was absent in their monogamous relationships.

Research results:

To understand gift-giving patterns, a participant survey was conducted where they were asked about their spending patterns in their monogamous and cohabiting relationships. They were also asked to recall how they received gifts from their partners. They were also asked questions to find out if men spend more money on gifts than women in a relationship.

The results of the study showed that, contrary to popular belief, people spend more money on maintaining a long-term relationship than on maintaining an extramarital relationship. In a committed partnership, gift giving can also serve many purposes, such as relationship building and bonding.

In addition, it is generally accepted that men spend more on relationship gifts than women. However, the results of the study dispelled this myth, showing that both men and women spend equally in relationships to maintain them. Gift-giving is believed to be a practice of strengthening long-lasting relationships. Extramarital affairs lack the element of long-term commitment; thus, people are reluctant to spend their resources and contribute heavily to it.