Bargain shopping ‘feels as good as sex’
September 14th, 2010 - 1:00 pm ICT by ANILondon, Sept 14 (ANI): It is often said that retail therapy really works for those who have a poor love life - and now a new study has discovered why.
The research has shown that shoppers get the same level of emotional excitement when they spot a bargain deal as they do from sexual arousal.
Researchers at the University of Westminster have found that special offers make us so deliriously happy that the brain is turned on to the same level excitement that it gets from sex.
And that is why they are such a successful way of selling items from the shelves, reports the Telegraph.
The researchers came to the conclusion after measuring brain activity in emotional areas of the mind, while volunteers carried out a number of activities including shopping and watching an erotic film.
They found a coupon or free gift with a jar of Marmite or a loaf of Kingsmill bread gave them just as much excitement as the pornography.
The researchers used specialist equipment to monitored eye movements and emotional responses in the body to a series of everyday consumer products in 50 volunteers.
Some featured special promotions like a discount coupon scheme or a free gift offer or an association with a favourite character like a Wallace and Gromit campaign.
Other everyday groceries in the test featured no special offers and were the normal versions of well-known brands.
The research was revealed in trade journal The Grocer. (ANI)
- Free gifts thrill shoppers as much as pornography - Sep 14, 2010
- Scientists find why we just can't say no - Apr 25, 2012
- Briton faces jail after gifted gun on wedding - Jul 16, 2011
- 'Only Fools and Horses' episode named most memorable Brit Christmas TV moment - Dec 01, 2010
- Camera phone helps create world's smallest movie - Sep 23, 2010
- Pittsburgh Steelers place a first round tender on Mike Wallace - Mar 03, 2012
- Swear hard to relieve pain - Apr 18, 2011
- Laughter lights up our faces, brains - Jun 29, 2011
- Feel-good transmitter levels in brain determine anger - Sep 19, 2011
- British university joins hands with Mumbai college - Apr 06, 2012
- BBC Accounts For Too Formulaic And Derivative Television, Says Trust - Nov 09, 2010
- Dose of the 'blues' could help people overcome depression - Oct 26, 2010
- Panda Express Offers Kobari Beef For Free Today - Sep 30, 2010
- Watching another being caressed acts as turn-on - Oct 18, 2011
- Swearing can help you ease pain of injury - Apr 18, 2011
Tags: bargain shopping, brain activity, coupon scheme, discount coupon, emotional areas, emotional excitement, emotional responses, erotic film, everyday consumer, everyday groceries, eye movements, free gift offer, grocer, love life, marmite, retail therapy, sex london, special promotions, specialist equipment, university of westminster