Gift Giving Guy

Most guys love the gift of toys. In other words, men want toys in their grown-up form — whether it’s ratchet sets, MP3 players, laser pointers, video games, phones, home electronics, fishing tackle, Swiss Army knives, or digital cameras. Given the choice between a sentimental present or a playfully functional one, go for the playful gadget for guys.

Why do men crave gadgets? Bill Adler, Jr. addresses guy-gadget glee in his book, Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Their Gadgets. I’ve only skimmed the introduction at Google Books, and Alder offers several explanations.

• Guys fidget — note flipping through TV channels on the remote control — and some gadgets play into that restlessness.
• Guys use toys to relieve stress: “Rather than talk about their doubts and dilemmas, many men would prefer their problems simply slip away while playing with the latest micro-complex watch.”
• Guys enjoy novelty, and the latest gadgets fulfill the need for newness.
• Guys like re-enacting their boyhood through grown-up toys. “Few men would be seen playing with Lincoln Logs, but building a remote-controlled airplane is an adult hobby that is just as much fun as any childhood pastime.”
• Guys want gadgets that affirm roles of protector and helper, and “alarms, flashlights, strobes, knives and pocket tools are good examples of this.”
• Guys want to look good — even alluring. “Is a man’s array of gadgetry like a peacock’s magnificent tail in the eyes of the peahen? Probably not, but this doesn’t change men’s belief that many women are attracted by a man’s gadgets, or his capability to possess many gadgets.”
• Guys can join work and play with their gadgets. “When work becomes fun through gadgets, men feel better about their work and themselves because they can enhance their professional life and play at the same time.”

Thanks to Adler, I’m starting to understand why I’ve found joy with so many gadget gifts I’ve received over the years, from the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner to the iPhone. I’ve added his book to my Amazon shopping cart (along with a fresh Roomba battery).

Next: #3: Select Gifts from his Interests

Previous: #1: Tune in for Clues