Evolutionary theory suggests ancient men attracted mates by besting rivals in displays of physical strength. Behavioral economists say some of this competitive compulsion lingers — but it comes now in the form of, say, flashing wealth (a Rolex on Tinder!) or embracing extremes, like: My way is the only way.

Hristina Nikolova, a marketing professor at Boston College, wanted to understand whether any old inclinations affect the way today’s men behave in decidedly more civil settings. So, she recruited college students with course credit and asked them to pick a grill.

The students’ gender, she found, appeared to influence their willingness to compromise with each other on which grill to select.