ALLURE: Hot Shoppers

Impulse buying with little thought for consequences may be a particular problem for women who consider themselves of above-average attractiveness.  This preliminary finding came out of a study of impulsivity by Margery Lucas and Elissa Koff, professors in the department of psychology at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.  Women who rated themselves most attractive and stylish compared with other women their age tended to score low on reflection about their purchases.  The study's authors can only speculate as to why, but they cite research showing that people are more likely to make indulgent choices when they feel proud, seemingly out of a sense that achievement of one goal (such as enhancing appearance) permits one to disengage from another (such as saving money).  

Source:  Allure magazine, July 2014, pg 84.