A: How crowded a space is

CROWDED ENVIRONMENTS IMPACT YOUR SHOPPING DECISIONS: New research finds that how crowded a space is can influence a person’s shopping decisions. To find this, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison gave participants money to gamble with. Some participants were in very crowded, cramped areas while others had more room to breathe. Researchers found that those in more open spaces chose to gamble money 50-percent more often than those who were in cramped quarters. Researchers also found that those in cramped quarters were more likely to buy safety-oriented items such as alarm systems and first-aid kits. Researchers say this may happen because when we are in crowds the body enters a defensive evolutionary state in which we want to avoid risks and protect ourselves. (Men’s Health)