Just in time for the holiday shopping season, here is an interesting article that summarizes the results of a study about the attitudes men and women, in general, have towards shopping. 

Marketing
‘Men Buy, Women Shop’: The Sexes Have Different Priorities When Walking Down the Aisles
When it comes to shopping, women are from Nordstrom’s and men are from Sears. Women are happy to meander through sprawling clothing and accessory collections or detour through the shoe department. For men, shopping is a mission. They are out to buy a targeted item and flee the store as quickly as possible, according to a new study by Wharton’s Jay H. Baker Retail Initiative and the Verde Group, a Toronto consulting firm. The study’s findings have implications for retailers that are looking for ways to tailor their goods and services to specific segments of the shopping population.
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/1848.cfm

While reading this article, I had a few internal chuckles thinking about the shopping trips my husband and I have.  There are times when I want to do to the mall just to get out, walk around, and look at stuff.  When my husband comes along it’s usually because there’s a meal and a movie involved.  As soon was we park and get out of the car, like clock-work, my husband asks, “What are we here for?” and I will tell him something generic like “I need a pair of professional looking shoes.”  This illicits a long sigh and then my husband turns into a cranky five year old and after 2 or 3 stores we have to leave and do something he wants to do before I go evil on him.  The funny thing is that my husband shops too, but he only has interest in stuff that he wants.  He will spend forever in a store looking at every single box before making a purchase decision.  Sometimes we will go to multiple stores or the same store over and over again until he can make up his mind.  In these situations it’s me who becomes the cranky 5-yr old.  Also, I do exhibit the “must complete mission” behavior when I know what it is I want.  Usually, I don’t bother taking my husband on these shopping missions, because I can’t stand being bogged down by his indecision.