INTRODUCTION TO ONLINE DATING RESEARCH

Anne Holappa

20.3.2014

IN THIS PRESENTATION…

Defining the phenomenon

Taking a look into the research history

Pointing out the variation of the research of

the topic

ONLINE

&Internet as a platform

• Digital possibilities

ONLINE DATING

DATINGTrying to find a date

• Human mate selection studies

LI

Cartoon by Peter Steiner published by The New Yorker on July 5, 1993

INTERNET-RELATED STUDIES

Online identities Sherry Turkle: Life on the

screen (1996)

Individual's choice of icon or avatar or ”nick”

Gender based use of language online (smileys)

Online communities

Online game studies

Online journalism / citizen journalism; blogging,

vlogging, photoblogging, podcasts…

TIME LINE

1995 Match.com, 1996 FINLAND Deitti.net, 1998 Yahoo Personals, FINLAND Sinkut.net; Suomi24

HUMAN MATING RESEARCH

C.H. Christensen 1947: Mate preferences

ranking within college students

David Buss 1995: Evolutionary reasoning on

mating strategies:• men place very high importance on youth: the

fertility and healthiness comes with youth and men´s main task is to pass on their genes

• women desire an older mate: the social status an older mate may have achieved that leads to more resources for a woman and her offspring

HUMAN MATING RESEARCH

Evolutionary theories

Social context theories

Social exchange: my beauty for your wealthy

Equity model: I´m academic and rich and want

similar

Social role theory: some mate preferences are

more acceptable socially

Regan, P. C. 2008: The Mating Game. A primer on love, Sex, and

Marriage. 2nd ed. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage

ONLINE DATING STUDIES

Online infidelity, deception, moral, trust (Monica Whitty)

Self-presentation / managing impressions (Goffman

theory)

Mate preferences (physical attractivity vs. other

features)

Social media applications

Smart phone applications

Goffman, Erving (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life.

TINDER

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/543941/tinder-the-online-dating-app-that-everyone-s-talking-about.html

http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/02/tinder-makes-its-first-match-in-antarctica.html

SUMMARYOnline dating is a dating experience that

allows individuals to contact and communicate

with one another over the Internet. Online

dating services usually provide unmoderated

matchmaking over the Internet, through the

use of personal computers or cell phones.

Online dating research is a combination of

human mating research and the study of online

environment as a platform. Emphasis might be

in either one.

ONLINE DATING

What makes you click?