“Having him ask for her hand in marriage is a way of signaling to her, and his friends and family, that he’s serious and ready for a future with her,” Professor Wilcox said. “The guy who proposes in the basketball arena is sending a massive signal to the world that he’s all in and completely committed.”

Just as an engagement ring has been a symbol of a man’s ability to provide, some wonder if the proposal hasn’t taken on a similar significance.

“Her fear might be if she asks and he says yes, he’s going along to get along,” Professor Wilcox added. “Getting that formal proposal from him is one way of addressing that concern.”

Even the rise of same-sex couples, an area of great change, has seen little movement of the proposal pendulum among heterosexual ones.