Intimates
The Mate Screening Motive: How Women Use Luxury Consumption to Signal to Men
Qihui Chen, Yajin Wang & Nailya Ordabayeva
Journal of Consumer Research, forthcoming
Abstract:
Previous research has found that for men, activating a mating motive increases luxury consumption as a way to attract a romantic partner. However, little is known about the role of luxury consumption in women's romantic endeavors. The present research conceptualizes a mate screening motive which explains how women use luxury consumption to romantically signal to men. Six studies and two follow-ups conducted in controlled and field settings show that the mate screening motive boosts women's consumption of luxury goods as a way to signal their mating standards to men and thereby deter undesirable pursuers. The effect is diminished when mate screening is less necessary such as when external screening tools are available (e.g., screening filters on dating websites), the quality of potential mates is high, and the focus is on selecting a desirable partner rather than deterring undesirable pursuers. The findings have important implications for understanding how consumers use products and brands in romantic relationships, and for designing marketing strategies and communication for luxury brands, commercial dating services, and dating apps. Our findings also provide insights for consumers on how to use brands and products as effective communication devices in romantic endeavors.
Same-Sex Marriage Legalization and Sexually Transmitted Infections Across Europe
Dimitrios Nikolaou
Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, forthcoming
Abstract:
I examine how same-sex marriage laws affect sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates, using country-level panel data from Europe. Dynamic difference-in-differences models show that same-sex marriage laws decrease the spread of shorter-term (syphilis, gonorrhoea) and longer-term infections (HIV, AIDS) among the general population. These effects are persistent over time and are much stronger than other same-sex relationship recognition policies. Further investigation reveals significant heterogeneity; same-sex marriage laws lead to sizeable decreases in all STIs among the most at-risk population for an infection, men who have sex with men, with additional positive externalities on the health capital of heterosexual men and women.
Desire on lockdown? Sexual desire and COVID-19 stress among LGBTQ+ and cisgender, heterosexual college students
Katherine Goldey et al.
Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, forthcoming
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented stressors for college students, and minority stress faced by LGBTQ + college students has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Associations between stress and sexual desire are complex, but research suggests that stress may be associated with higher solitary sexual desire and lower dyadic sexual desire. The current study examined associations between sexual desire and a multidimensional measure of pandemic stress among LGBTQ + and cisgender, heterosexual (cis-het) college students. Participants (N = 377, 57% LGBTQ+) completed an online survey during the Spring 2021 semester that included the Sexual Desire Inventory and a multidimensional COVID Stress Measure. LGBTQ + students reported higher stress in multiple domains-isolation, academics, living situation, concerns about racism and prejudice, and health care access-relative to cis-het students. For LGBTQ + and cis-het students, higher overall COVID stress, as well as higher stress related specifically to isolation and to the virus itself, were associated with higher solitary and dyadic sexual desire. Greater concern about racism and prejudice during the pandemic was associated with higher solitary sexual desire, especially for LGBTQ+ students. Our findings underscore the importance of sexuality as a means of seeking connection during an event that disrupted college students' lives in many ways. We highlight implications for university professionals, particularly the need to support LGBTQ +-affirming organizations, mental health resources, and sexual health resources as students return to college campuses.
The Disutility of Stock Market Losses: Evidence From Domestic Violence
Tse-Chun Lin & Vesa Pursiainen
Review of Financial Studies, forthcoming
Abstract:
Stock returns during the week are negatively associated with the reported incidence of domestic violence during the weekend. This relationship is primarily driven by negative returns. The incidence of domestic violence increases with the magnitude of losses, and the effect increases with local stock market participation. Our findings suggest that negative wealth shocks caused by stock market crashes can affect stress levels within intimate relationships, escalate arguments, and trigger domestic violence. Stock market losses may reduce household utility beyond the shock to financial wealth, supporting gain-loss models where disutility from losses outweighs the utility from gains of a similar magnitude.
Emotional Cues and Violent Behavior: Unexpected Basketball Losses Increase Incidents of Family Violence
Alexander Cardazzi et al.
Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, forthcoming
Abstract:
Domestic violence generates long-term effects on offenders, victims, and other household members. While coercive behavior explains some family violence, aggression can also be reactive, triggered by emotional stimulus. Insight into triggers of family violence can inform policy and mitigate abusive behavior. Card, D. and G. B. Dahl. (2011). "Family Violence and Football: The Effect of Unexpected Emotional Cues on Violent Behavior," 126 The Quarterly Journal of Economics 103-43 undertook a novel analysis of family violence triggers using unexpected losses by American professional football teams. We extend research on this trigger using data from National Basketball Association (NBA) games. Our results show that unexpected NBA losses lead to increased in-home violence. Heterogeneity analyses show that these effects are larger for weekend games, when referees are fatigued, and closer to the playoff season.
It Takes Two to Borrow: The Effects of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act on Housing, Credit, and Labor Market Decisions of Married Couples
Alina Kristin Bartscher
Review of Financial Studies, forthcoming
Abstract:
Until the 1970s, U.S. mortgage lenders commonly discounted half of the wife's income in couples' joint mortgage applications. This changed with the introduction of antidiscrimination legislation in the 1970s, providing a natural experiment to study the relaxation of income-related borrowing constraints. I study the effects of the reform by estimating difference-in-differences regressions and solving a simple calibrated life cycle model. I find substantial positive effects of the reform on mortgage borrowing and homeownership rates of married couples with working wives. Moreover, I find a positive effect on married women's labor force participation, which strongly amplifies the homeownership and borrowing effects.