If a subject was paid to spot flower photos, they consistently guessed (at the end of the process) that there were fewer flowers than birds. And vice versa for those paid to spot bird photos. 

Their perception of scarcity was starkly skewed toward what was more valuable to them.

So next time single friends complain that all the “good ones” are taken – tell em, “Your perception is wack.” I wonder if that will be of some comfort to them.

When folks place high value on something, like a perfect mate, they immediately (and often incorrectly) think it’s scarce.