When Shopping is not Shopping
June 24, 2009
A typical and yet interesting reality is that most women enjoy shopping and most men do not. As one interested in human behavior this is a fascinating finding worthy of some curiosity. The explanation of the differences between the two genders regarding shopping might be found in a basic understanding of the human brain.
Shopping for a male brain is defined as going into a store or mall, selecting the item to be purchased, and getting out of the store as fast as possible. This behavior is task-based, something to be confronted and completed. The male brain operates primarily within the dominant hemisphere, a side of the brain that is task based.
Shopping for a female brain is both task based and process based. For example, a female can do the same thing a male does while shopping by getting the item and getting out. However, upon entering the doors of the mall, the female brain hears music in the background, smells cinnamon rolls baking in the distance, and appreciates the wonderful different colors and textures of the products throughout the store. This is the non-dominant side of the female brain functioning, something that is foreign to the male brain within the shopping mall.
It can be fun to watch the female and male brain try to work together as “shopping” behavior occurs together. Have you ever seen an otherwise happy couple get frustrated with each other in the mall? Perhaps a little understanding of the how and why behind the gender differences can help to make the next shopping trip a good one.
Dr. Paul Nussbaum
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Comments
Guys do shop
June 26, 2009 by Anonymous, 19 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 37552
I am mostly like the described male in that I go out to get what I need and get out. But I noticed that I switch to "shopping" when I am looking for something that I want but do not really need. For example, many years ago my car was totaled and I needed to get another fairly quickly. In that case I found an acceptable used one and bought it with almost no looking around. More recently I bought a new car which I did not really need (I could have bought another used one much cheaper). In this case I spent weeks looking around at all the different possibilities before I bought.
I wonder if the difference between men and women shopping is due to the difference in the types of unnecessary things they want rather than the shopping itself.
Distractability
June 25, 2009 by Anonymous, 19 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 37532
Your description of female shopping describes my husband quite well. And the male shopper is me. I am always the frustrated one who thinks he is dawdling, rather than vice versa. Granted, I am a computer scientist and probably quite a bit more left-brained than many women.
I would tend to give some weight to the impact of gender-based cultural roles. Men like to shop for cars, for instance. Women specialize in grocery store and mall items. Neither feels comfortable being dragged out of their comfort zone and looks at shopping in hostile environments as a chore, rather than a pleasure.
And, what about hunting vs. gathering? Shopping is the modern form of gathering. Perhaps women have been selected to enjoy gathering and men to enjoy hunting. This would not necessarily have to do with a task orientation vs. experiencing orientation. Gathering and hunting are both tasks, and to those who enjoy one or the other of them, they might be an experience to savor.
And let me
June 25, 2009 by Anonymous, 19 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 37526
and let me Get this clear though. Your saying that the males brain works mostly on the dominant side which would be the left. For writing,math,logic, higher brain functioning........... and the woman brain works primarily on the right side where more creative things lye, so for example: When you say:
"the woman is more intrigued by the items in the store" (than the man) Is this right? just so I know i understand your theory, you've gave me my retrieval cue for an old thought about this i had. I love trying to figure out various behaviors through looking at all angles, psychology has to offer.
Ya i agree
June 25, 2009 by Anonymous, 19 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 37525
Ya i agree on a more obvious outlook on the whole thing, but I am a firm believer of circumstances. (Not saying i think your wrong I love the theory), for a case like this though it depends on the person.
Bah, 'shopping' as a whole is
June 25, 2009 by Anonymous, 19 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 37539
Bah, 'shopping' as a whole is just considered in a wrong context here. Release the average male in a hardware store or an electronics store, and you've got interest and shop-behaviour.