Definition
An engagement ring is a ring given by a suitor around the time of a proposal of marriage. Although some engagement rings are family heirlooms, more often they are purchased either by the suitor alone or by both members of the betrothed couple. In the United States, an engagement ring is conventionally worn on the third finger of a woman’s left hand. Engagement rings often include one or more diamonds. Following the marriage ceremony, the engagement ring may be worn in combination with a wedding band.
Introduction
In many human societies, the exchange of property or money around the time of marriage is socially expected and may take many forms (Fortunato et al. 2006). In the United States and some other industrialized economies, engagement rings are a form of marriage-related property transfer, usually from a man to a woman, that is conspicuous, financially costly, and socially meaningful. Beyond serving as a de facto signal of a woman’s relationship status, an engagement...
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Dunham, B., Cronk, L. (2016). Engagement Rings. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_132-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_132-1
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