Study Finds Men Rush to Buy First Round in Male-Dominated Groups

Harvard researchers suggest this behavior is a display of resources and competitiveness in environments with higher male competition.

A Harvard study observed 163 mixed-gender groups in Boston pubs, analyzing the speed at which men bought the first round of drinks.
Men in male-dominated groups were significantly quicker to buy the first round, a behavior linked to evolutionary displays of resources and status.
In female-dominated groups, men were slower to purchase drinks, with researchers attributing this to reduced male competition for attention.
The study concluded that men’s behavior in such social settings mirrors competitive patterns seen in other animal species vying for mates.
Women in the observed groups never went to the bar first, reinforcing traditional expectations of male investment in social contexts.