First date
In many countries and cultures, it is the process that romantic relationships are developed and future spouses are found.
As the study by Mary Claire Morr Serewicz of the Department of Human Communication Studies at the University of Denver, and Paul Mongeau of Arizona State University, states that first dates "represent an important early event in the development of dating relationship.
In the 2004 study done by Mongeau, he quotes Roscoe, who identifies six purposes for dating: • Recreation (to have fun) • Socialization (to get to know the partner) • Status grading (increasing social status by dating an attractive partner) • Companionship (finding a friend to do things with) • Mate selection/courtship (finding a spouse) • Intimacy (establishing a meaningful relationship)[3] Mongeau's 2007 study on dates and first date goals quotes Beth Bailey of the University of Chicago, as well as Sally Lloyd of Miami University with an emphasis in family studies.
In a study done by Suzanna Rose of the University of Missouri and Irene Hanson Frieze of the University of Pittsburgh, published in the Journal of Gender and Society, they quote Ginsberg, who writes that scripts "are types of schema used to organize our experiences and are usually composed of a set of stereotypical actions.
"[5] In the Journal of Family Issues, Laner describes that these scripts are what allow people to predict the actions of others and serve as guidelines for their own decisions on how to react to the other person.
[6] Studies done by Mongeau, Laner, and Knox all show that first dates tend to be more "traditional" (male-dominated) from start to finish.
A factor that could influence dating scripts is the availability of alcohol, which is sold in many Western restaurants and in all licensed bars.
The context feature involves aspects like the environment and the situations the individuals are in such as privacy, formality, and task oriented.
[11] These situations either enhance or diminish the interaction on the date and help maintain and structure individual's goals.
The three most common goals that people have on first dates are to reduce uncertainty, achieve relational escalation, and to have fun.
According to a study about sex differences in human behavior by Alice Eagly and Wendy Wood, professors in Psychology at Northwestern University, both men and women are looking for certain attractiveness that fits their taste and style.
The study states "the value of attractiveness stems from its perceived association with the ability to provide sexual pleasure.
Studies done by Antonia Abbey of Wayne State University and other colleagues indicate that men tend to perceive people and relationships in more of a sexualized manner than women do.
For example, men might find tickling to mean that the woman is very interested while to women it might just be a way of flirting or joking around.
[20] Abbey's studies might seem at first glance to corroborate the theory that men tend to be more sexually attracted to the opposite sex.
However, recent research by evolutionary psychologists and others suggests that the difference in attraction is exaggerated or nonexistent.
Fisher concludes that, "Evidence clearly points to the fact that the gender difference in reported sex partners between men and women is an illusory difference created by attitudes related to sexual success as prestigious which in turn impact self-reports.
