2. Dating and Mate Selection
Chapter 5
Dating and Mate Selection

3. Topics to Cover
Development and change in courtship, dating, hooking up, and mate selection
A bioecological examination of dating and mate selection
Theories of dating and mate selection
Diversity in dating and mate selection
Contemporary trends around the world
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

4. Summarize historical and contemporary trends in dating and mate selection.
Development and change in courtship, dating, hooking up, and mate selection
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

5. Courtship, Dating, Hooking Up, and Mate Selection
Development and change in courtship, dating, hooking up, and mate selection
Courtship, Dating, Hooking Up, and Mate Selection
Early-stage romantic excursions
Foundation for committed relationship
Includes romantic outings
Allow people to get to know each other
Hooking up
Casual sexual experiences
No commitment
Friends with benefit
Sexual activities with friends
Friends remain friends
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

6. Dating and the Mate Selection Process
Development and change in courtship, dating, hooking up, and mate selection
Dating and the Mate Selection Process
Fiske’s four key relationship dynamics
Communal sharing
Authority ranking
Equality matching
Market pricing
A courtship may then form
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

7. The Attachment Theory Attachments form internal working models
Development and change in courtship, dating, hooking up, and mate selection
The Attachment Theory
Attachments form internal working models
Secure attachments
Relationships are safe
Self as worthy of love
Anxious, preoccupied, or ambivalent
Disillusionment model
People are not what they seem …
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

8. A bioecological examination of dating and mate selection
Describe how factors in each system of the bioecological model impact dating and mate selection.
A bioecological examination of dating and mate selection
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

9. Biological Factors Evolutionary Perspectives Neurobiological Research
A bioecological examination of dating and mate selection
Biological Factors
Evolutionary Perspectives
Neurobiological Research
Fisher’s Phases of Chemical Attraction
Lust: androgens and estrogens peaking
Attraction: dopamine and norepinephrine increase; serotonin decreases
Attachment: oxytocin and vasopressin increase
Internal working model activated, as well
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

10. Person, Process, and Context
A bioecological examination of dating and mate selection
Person, Process, and Context
Propinquity
Mere exposure effect
Similarity-attraction effect
Mediated by self-esteem
Expectancy value theory
Perceived attractiveness, compatibility, and similarity
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

11. Macrosystem Influences
A bioecological examination of dating and mate selection
Macrosystem Influences
Women have less control over dating and mate selection
Monogamy is not the norm
Polygyny
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

12. Theories of dating and mate selection
Identify some theories that are used to analyze dating and mate selection patterns.
Theories of dating and mate selection
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

13. Theories of Dating and Mate Selection
Structural-Functionalism and dating
androcentric
Conflict Theory
Male entitlement and power struggles
Market maximization strategy
Filter Theory
Pool of eligibles
Propinquity
Attractiveness
Social background, consensus, and complementarity filters
Good enough versus perfect mates
Cross-cultural perspectives
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

14. Diversity in dating and mate selection
Discuss dating behaviors and attitudes in diverse populations including mixed-race couples, LGBT couples, and younger and older couples.
Diversity in dating and mate selection
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

15. Ethnicity and Dating Ethnicity and dating
Diversity in dating and mate selection
Ethnicity and Dating
Ethnicity and dating
More African Americans than whites frown on cross-ethnic relationships
Less eligible men of color
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

16. LBGT Community and Dating
Diversity in dating and mate selection
LBGT Community and Dating
Most begin dating heterosexually
Viewed as a phase or “experimentation”
Shunned, ostracized, or teased
Self-doubt and shame
Deprived of social support
Ethnic variations in LGBT communities
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

17. Seniors and Dating Little research on later years
Diversity in dating and mate selection
Seniors and Dating
Little research on later years
Psychological and physical health
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

18. Contemporary trends around the world
Discuss some global trends and issues that affect dating in the modern age.
Contemporary trends around the world
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

19. Contemporary Trends Less about finding a marriage partner now
Contemporary trends around the world
Contemporary Trends
Less about finding a marriage partner now
Less organized, formalized, and ritualized
Young people more educated
The United States: a romantic culture
Individualistic bent
Exportation of values to collectivist cultures
Dating with technology
Widens the pool of potential mates
People create false personas or rush intimacy
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

20. Dating Violence Much violence in teen dating relationships
Contemporary trends around the world
Dating Violence
Much violence in teen dating relationships
Connection between bullying and dating violence
Linked to mental health problems
Risk factors for dating violence
Friends as moderators of violence
Victim blaming
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

21. Chapter Summary
Summarize historical and contemporary trends in dating and mate selection.
Describe how factors in each system of the bioecological model impact dating and mate selection.
Identify some theories that are used to analyze dating and mate selection patterns.
Discuss dating behaviors and attitudes in diverse populations including mixed race couples, LGBT couples, and younger and older couples.
Discuss some global trends and issues that affect dating in the modern age.
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

22. Open-access student resources
Mobile-friendly quizzes
Mobile-friendly eFlashcards
Learning objective summaries
Video and multimedia resources
SAGE journal articles
Checklist action plan
edge.sagepub.com/howem&f2e
Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.