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What you should get your girlfriend for Valentines Day, according to science
With Valentines Day now just six days away, youve hopefully already stocked up on all the presents and chocolates you might need for your girlfriend. If you havent, then science has got your back.
Despite the erosion of time, gifting on Valentines Day has remained fairly static since the days of Victorian London. Flowers in general became the staple before roses rose to prominence during the 16th century. Chocolates came soon after, and the rest is history.
What you should buy your girlfriend for Valentine’s Day
Research suggests that men and women typically like very different gifts on Valentines Day. This, of course, is subjective as there are definitely women out there who would appreciate gifts typically given to men.
Writing in Forbes last year, Dr. Gleb Tsipursky pulled together his knowledge and external research to put forward a series of criteria to help with your shopping.
Research has shown that women have a stronger commitment to ethical behavior, so a gift to charity on your partners behalf might be particularly valuable, he wrote at the time.
He further argued that women value gifts that contribute to their own ethical commitment like self-care items.
He explained: If she loves to read, she may appreciate a new book or a subscription to an ebook service. If she enjoys art, she may appreciate a painting or sculpture. A woman who loves music might appreciate concert tickets or a music streaming service.
Tsipursky continued to describe how biases influence gift purchasing, so its important to do some research before typing in your bank details.
By doing so, couples can ensure that they are buying a gift that the other person will truly appreciate, rather than something that confirms their own biases or sticks to the status quo, he said.
Wow doesnt equal success on Valentine’s Day
Consumer behavior researchers Jeff Galak, Julian Givi, and Elanor F. Williams penned a study in 2016 entitled, Why Certain Gifts Are Great to Give but Not to Get: A Framework for Understanding Errors in Gift Giving.
They found that gift-givers are focused on the wow factor and how surprised the person will be when they open it. In contrast, people receiving gifts are more interested in how much enjoyment and happiness it will bring them.
Similarly, a 2022 survey from YouGov indicated that smaller, more thoughtful gifts, are often those that are best received. Around 30% of adults said they would want a card, compared to just 10% that wanted tickets for a big night out. Chocolates, flowers, and a homemade meal also ranked particularly high.
Use some brainpower, dont flash the cash
Numerous studies also suggested that lavish gifts are not always well received, especially if youve outdone them in terms of price tag.
When it comes to choosing Valentines Day gifts for close others, like romantic partners, givers try especially hard to be thoughtful and demonstrate their knowledge of their partner, explained the University of Cincinnatis Mary Steffel.
The truth is, the perfect gift is as unique as the person youre buying it for. In order to truly blow them away, you need to understand them on a level that demonstrates your compatibility. Most people like a sunny holiday, but if your partner hates hot weather, then its not going to work.
