The Psychology of Online Dating

THE PSYCHOLOGY of Online Dating Online dating is more popular than ever! But have you ever wondered about the psychology behind it? You may be surprised to hear what really goes on under the surface... TRADITIONAL ONLINE VS. Dating Dating PRE-INTERNET ONLINE DATING SITES Human matchmakers even The evolution of online dating date back to the Bible! Before includes the use of online there was online dating, professional matchmakers, parents or priests typically made the matches. personal advertisement sites, algorithm-based matching sites and smartphone-based dating applications. MATCH 1995 LAUNCHED eHARMONY 2000 LAUNCHED SMART-PHONE APPS 2008 LIKE ZOOSK EMERGED ATTITUDES TOWARDS ONLINE Dating At the turn of the millennium, college students had more negative than positive attitudes. By 2005, Pew Internet & American Life Project found that Internet users were split on their opinions. 44% 44% 59% of all internet users now agree that online dating is a good way to meet people. That's a 15-point increase from 2005! Internet daters more likely to be sociable, have high self-esteem, and be low in dating anxiety. 21% of internet users agree that people who use online dating sites are desperate. That's an 8-point decline from 2005! 21% 53% of internet users agree that online dating allows people to find better matches because there are more options. PREVALENCE OF ONLINE Daling A 2009 study found that 22% of heterosexual In 2011, Match.com said 1 in 5 relationships start online. couples who met between 2007 and 2009 did so online. 1 in 5 adults ages 25-34 years old have dated online. Online dating is especially common among those with a minority sexual orientation, those who have recently moved or experienced a breakup, and people who work long hours. 45-54 year olds are just as likely to date online as are 18-24 year olds. 45-54 8% 10% 18-24 66% of online daters have gone on a date with someone they met through a dating site or app. 66% LYING & DECEPTION IN ONLINE Dating 94% of online daters deny their internet dating profiles contain any fibs. Over 50% of online daters have felt that someone else seriously misrepresented themselves in their profile. 28% of online daters have felt harassed or were made uncomfortable. CRAFTING THE IDEAL Dating PROFILE What makes a Fudging the truth still happens! One study found both men and women reported being slightly i taller than the national average i and women reported weighing from 5 to 23 pounds less than !i the national average. great photo (and more responses) for women?! Eye-contact with a flirty face. Men do best when ! they look away from the camera Photos associated with the longest online i conversations include: animals, travel photo or an interesting activity. ! Avoid photos in bed or involving drinking! and don't smile. ! Another study found that 60% of online daters lied about weight, 48% about their height, and 19% about their age. 1 in 5 online daters have asked someone else to help them with their profile. Sources: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/PSPI-online_dating-proof.pdf http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2006/Online-Dating.aspx http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/09/online-dating-10-psychological-insights.php http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/10/21/online-dating-relationships/ eLearners.com http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/the-4-big-myths-of-profile-pictures/