1. A Sociological Approach to Love and Romantic Relationships
Chapter 7

2. Discussion Outline I. The Sociology of Love and Relationships
II. What is Love
III. Relationship Rituals
IV. Mate Selection

3. Love and Sociology
What is intimate, personal, and individual, is connected to the wider society
Love and the sociological imagination
C. Wright Mills
The ways couples meet, form relationships, and fall in love change across time
I.e.: Jason and Liz on pg 225

4. Scripting Diversity Social Script
A commonly understood pattern of interaction that serves as a model of behavior in familiar situations
Are there scripts for dating? For falling in love? For meeting a mate? What have been the social scripts of the past? What are they now?
There is more diversity now in how relationships are begun and built…

5. Changing Social Scripts
4 Developments…
The demise of the dating system as the dominant mode of relationship formation
The increasing acceptance of living together as a common stage in relationships
The incorporation of divorced and older singles into the mix of those looking for new relationships
The continual adaptation of communication technology to relationship dynamics, increasing the immediacy of the interaction

6. Love How would Darwin explain the evolution of love? Love
A deep affection and concern for another, with whom one feels a strong emotional bond
Romantic Love
The passionate devotion and attraction one person feels for another
The expectation that couples would love one another was not common before the 1600’s
Are cultural scripts of romantic love realistic? Does love change over time?

7. The Two Cultures of Love
Existing side by side…
It can’t always be butterflies and bliss…
Romantic love and Utilitarian love
The practical, rational dedication of one person to another based on shared understanding and emotional commitment

8. Relationship Rituals
From Arranged marriages. To courtship. To dating. To going steady. To???
What does “dating” mean? What does “hooking up” mean?
Subjectivity
What people consider normal changes from person to person, era to era, and society to society
Religion-Race-Social Class-Age-Country
Who pursues? Who asks? Who pays? Who initiates? How many dates?

9. Relationship Rituals

10. Changing Rituals and New Research
Older Singles and Single Parents
New editions to the dating scene
Gay and Lesbian Relationships
Difficulties and barriers?
Modifying hetero scripts

11. Proms and Changing Laws
Segregated Proms?
The symbolism of prom
Same Sex high school Relationships?

12. Mate Selection
The process by which people choose each other for sexual or romantic relationships
How does mate selection influence the broader society with regard to:
Inequality
Social Distance-Inclusion vs exclusion
Family dynamics

13. Mate Selection and Attraction
What attracts people to one another?
Biology/Evolution based explanations
Hip to waist ratio?
Sociological based explanations
High Heels and Bound feet?
Social Construction of Beauty.

14. Mate Selection and Attraction
Race/Ethnicity
Homophily
Endogamy
Online Endogamy