1. Purposes & Stages
of Dating

2. Purpose of Dating Socialization To develop appropriate social skills.
To practice getting along with others in different settings.

3. Purpose of Dating Recreation
To have fun and enjoy the companionship of others.
To try new and different activities.

4. Purpose of Dating Mate Selection
To see others in many different settings.
To compare the personality and characteristics of many people.

5. Stage One: Gushy Typical “We have so many things in common.”
“No one else has ever felt quite like this before.”

6. Characteristics of Stage One
Always on time for dates
Laugh at each others jokes
Agree on everything
Artificial –both are on best behavior
Same likes: music, cars, people, food
Non-critical
Conversation keeps going
Need to be physical (always holding hands, hugging)
Writes the other persons name all over everything
Love the sound of their names together
Dating relationships are usually short
Everything is funny
Co-equals (where to eat, “you decide.” “No, you decide etc.)
Lots of kissing
Constantly saying “I love you”
Lots of talking to each other on the phone
Lots of text messaging, ing, instant messaging
Attend ready made entertainment (movies, dances etc.)

8. Stage Two: Playing Games
Typical
Have hearts crossed out all over their notebooks.
Have swollen eyes from crying on the average of three times a day.

9. Characteristic of Stage Two
Always on time for dates
Laugh at each others jokes
Agree on everything
Artificial –both are on best behavior
Same likes: music, cars, people, food
Non-critical
Conversation keeps going
Need to be physical (always holding hands, hugging)
Writes the other persons name all over everything
Love the sound of their names together
Dating relationships are usually short
Everything is funny

10. More Characteristics Stage Two
Co-equals (where to eat, “you decide.” “No, you decide etc.)
Lots of kissing
Constantly saying “I love you”
Lots of talking to each other on the phone
Lots of text messaging, ing, instant messaging
Attend ready made entertainment (movies, dances etc.)
Pettiness- little things made into big things
A time to look at personality and character, not just appearance
Dating relationships like to be confined to one person
Personality traits values more than just an interest in the opposite sex
Feel more confident with the opposite sex now

12. Stage 3: Goal Directed Typical “Were planning our future together”
“I want YOU to be happy”
“ I will love you unconditionally”

13. Characteristics of Stage Three
They are glad to see each other do things with other friends
They trust one another
They are not all over each other whenever they’re alone
The are interested in seeing each other fulfill goals
They want each other to be happy
They are interested in each other’s long term happiness
It’s not all about short term pleasures
They can talk about non-romantic topics (in-laws, children, money, sex, religion, occupation, politics, holidays etc.)
They are comfortable being themselves
They may become engaged
More mature
They begin to remember things about each other and adapt to it (which foods they don’t like, they stay up late, they go to bed early, they are tight with money etc.)
They will often times start to make wedding plans