People who come across as utterly unattainable usually are, she says. You need standards, but don't set them too high, Anderson counsels. But if you play too hard to get, they're likely to look elsewhere. Men in particular tend to overestimate their social price, and women to underestimate theirs, the economists say. In its mildest forms, this unequal distribution leads women to do all the cooking, they say, and at its worst, it makes men abusive.
Social price becomes less important the longer a couple has been together, they say.
After several months or a few years, initial impressions take a back seat to reality. And that's when we find out if the other person was really worth the asking price. And that you want your money back. Take a look at answers to questions frequently asked of the Dating Doctor online. You also might want to read previous HealthScout articles on love and marriage .