Explaining Differences Between Men and Women When It Comes to Shopping

Men and women get along just fine in everyday life but, usually, when it comes to shopping, most men would rather go alone, make their choice in under five minutes and get out.

And since Christmas is just around the corner and there are many of you out there, who still haven't found the perfect gift, this new research could help you to better understand the shopping behavior of your partner and avoid stress in stores.

If you take a look around you, you will most likely see men rushing to a certain item, paying it and leave the store, while women study fabrics, colors, textures and price.

This is the hunting and gathering ritual that's been subsiding for thousands of years now, and it's still the same today, in every mall around the world.

A researcher at the University of Michigan says that understanding this behavior, can save you a lot of trouble and unnecessary stress at the stores.

Daniel Kruger of the U-M School of Public Health explains that gathering edible plants and fungi has always been done by women, and today, this activity has turned into filling a basket by selecting one item at a time.

In the past, women gathered provisions almost daily, and this activity was not only a social one, but most of the times it involved children.

The reason for which women spend so much time choosing things is that they need to make sure they have made the best choice, in terms of quality and safety.

They also seem to know when a certain type of item will go on sale, much better than men.

Men are exactly the opposite: they already have a certain item in mind and all they want to do is get in, get it and get out.

Kruger said that a possible explanation to this behavior could be that in ancient times, men had to get meat at home as soon as possible.

These behavior have nothing to do with genetics so they do not apply to everybody, but, as Kruger said, they verify most of the times.

Watch the 'Evolution explains different shopping styles' video: