It’s a term that conjures up the image of a younger woman pursuing an older, wealthy man.
But men can be gold diggers too, according to a study.
Researchers from the Behavioural and Social Sciences Institute in Vienna asked 351 people to complete a survey about their dating preferences.
Overall, they discovered that gold diggers are most likely to be women who display reckless and narcissistic traits.
However, they found that pursuing someone solely for their money or status was not a uniquely female tactic.
‘Gold digging emerged as an exploitative mating strategy beyond a simple preference for resourceful partners,’ the study, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, reads.
‘It was observed among both sexes.’
Lead author Lennart Freyth said he wasn’t surprised by the findings, adding: ‘If gold digging is a human mating strategy, [it makes sense that] men also use it – even at lower rates.’
Dr Freyth said he was inspired to carry out the study after becoming interested in people who adopt highly exploitative dating strategies.
This goes beyond a simple preference for a well–off partner, he explained, and instead describes someone who prioritises money above everything else.
The study begins with a quote from the song Gold Digger by Kanye West – ‘She take my money when I’m in need’.
‘This song captures three core elements of the public conception of gold diggers,’ the paper reads. ‘Exploiting others, avoiding poor mates [partners], and being female’.
To explore this stereotype, the researchers scored each participant on their gold–digging tendencies using a 15–part questionnaire.
From this, they divided the group into two parts – the ones who leaned more towards an intimacy–focused relationship and those who wanted a more materialistic one. Participants also carried out a personality test.
‘Gold digging was associated with psychopathy, which captures its reckless component,’ Dr Freyth said. ‘This was true for both sexes.
‘In addition, gold diggers prefer big cities and were more likely to be students. Female gold diggers are also sadistic and tend towards right–wing ideology.’
However, when it came to men, he warned against ‘performative males’ who appear especially sensitive or progressive.
‘These men increase their mating value by positioning themselves as compassionate, caring and empathetic,’ Dr Freyth said.
‘This way, women consider them less of a red flag.
‘Being agreeable at first glance makes you seem less threatening than someone who questions the status quo.’
When asked on the best ways to spot a gold digger, he said: ‘Be cautious with the ‘big city girl’, be aware of students.
‘And keep in mind that even a guy who appears thoughtful and compassionate might have interests beyond your character.’
A separate study recently found that men are sadder when their wives earn more than them.
Scientists from the University of Durham analysed the incomes and mental health of heterosexual couples in Sweden.
They found that women becoming the breadwinner resulted in a higher risk of mental health issues for both members of the couple – but especially for husbands.
‘The share of couples where the wife out–earns the husband is increasing globally,’ the researchers said.
‘Crossing the threshold where the wife starts earning more significantly increases the probability of receiving a mental health diagnosis.
‘In the most restrictive specification, the likelihood increases by approximately 8 per cent for the whole sample and by 11 per cent for men.’
