Online Dating
This is a survey study funded by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology on the topic of online dating. The survey will ask demographic information, show participants dating profiles to assess, and then ask questions regarding the profiles viewed.
Findings from the 2008 Cooperative Congressional Electional Study show that approximately 30% of Caucasian individuals who participated in the study rejected relationships with either African American or Asian American individuals, while approximately 30% endorsed interracial relationships. The study suggests that “positive global attitudes toward interracial relationships do not translate into high rates of actual interracial cohabitation or marriage” (Herman & Campbell, 2012). Evidence shows that age, location/ setting, political ideals, and religion factor into the willingness of an individual to engage in an interracial relationship (Herman & Campbell, 2012). Family and social support approval or disapproval as well as educational status also play a major role in interracial interactions (Miller, Olson & Fazio, 2004). Finding a partner, choosing a partner, and being chosen by the same partner create complications within interracial relationships (Herman & Campbell, 2012). By eliminating these issues and focusing on the hypothetical willingness to date interracially, we are better able to study integrated dating beliefs. The freedoms of choice that dating individuals have, including their ability to state preferences, communicate with whom they wish, and face minimal to no third party interference are “[w]hat makes online dating behavior particularly interesting” (Mendelsohn, Taylor, Fiore & Cheshire, 2014).
Current evidence conflicts with a study that indicates African Americans are the least likely to demonstrate willingness to date interracially, with Asian Americans being the most willing, which could be attributed to their small group size compared to the rest of the population (McClintock, 2010). On the other hand, African Americans were more likely to have interracial friendships than Caucasians, which may be due to the fact that African Americans are a part of a minority group and “are forced to interact and associate with a dominant White society…” (Mills, Daly, Longmore & Kilbride, 1995). However, using a study that primarily focused primarily on internet dating, Robnett and Feliciano (2011) found that Caucasians were less likely than African Americans to date Asian and Latino populations. This research may indicate that interracial dating is highly influenced by preference and opportunity. Much of the research focused mainly on the interactions between African American and Caucasian individuals, disregarding other racial and ethnic groups.
Evaluating interracial dating, especially in an online setting, is complicated. Much of the existing empirical evidence is limited to interracial marriage and cohabitation, rather than the dating and “mate selection process” (Lin & Lundquist, 2013). The rates of intermarriage are lower than those of interracial dating, according to Lin and Lundquist (2013). The current research leaves questions to be addressed in this study, including is whether or not implicit biases predict preferences in regards to online dating, and to what extent. Is bias the appropriate term or is preference more adequate to describe the results of this study? Does the time limit differences and extent of presented profile information affect attractiveness ratings?
Findings from the 2008 Cooperative Congressional Electional Study show that approximately 30% of Caucasian individuals who participated in the study rejected relationships with either African American or Asian American individuals, while approximately 30% endorsed interracial relationships. The study suggests that “positive global attitudes toward interracial relationships do not translate into high rates of actual interracial cohabitation or marriage” (Herman & Campbell, 2012). Evidence shows that age, location/ setting, political ideals, and religion factor into the willingness of an individual to engage in an interracial relationship (Herman & Campbell, 2012). Family and social support approval or disapproval as well as educational status also play a major role in interracial interactions (Miller, Olson & Fazio, 2004). Finding a partner, choosing a partner, and being chosen by the same partner create complications within interracial relationships (Herman & Campbell, 2012). By eliminating these issues and focusing on the hypothetical willingness to date interracially, we are better able to study integrated dating beliefs. The freedoms of choice that dating individuals have, including their ability to state preferences, communicate with whom they wish, and face minimal to no third party interference are “[w]hat makes online dating behavior particularly interesting” (Mendelsohn, Taylor, Fiore & Cheshire, 2014).
Current evidence conflicts with a study that indicates African Americans are the least likely to demonstrate willingness to date interracially, with Asian Americans being the most willing, which could be attributed to their small group size compared to the rest of the population (McClintock, 2010). On the other hand, African Americans were more likely to have interracial friendships than Caucasians, which may be due to the fact that African Americans are a part of a minority group and “are forced to interact and associate with a dominant White society…” (Mills, Daly, Longmore & Kilbride, 1995). However, using a study that primarily focused primarily on internet dating, Robnett and Feliciano (2011) found that Caucasians were less likely than African Americans to date Asian and Latino populations. This research may indicate that interracial dating is highly influenced by preference and opportunity. Much of the research focused mainly on the interactions between African American and Caucasian individuals, disregarding other racial and ethnic groups.
Evaluating interracial dating, especially in an online setting, is complicated. Much of the existing empirical evidence is limited to interracial marriage and cohabitation, rather than the dating and “mate selection process” (Lin & Lundquist, 2013). The rates of intermarriage are lower than those of interracial dating, according to Lin and Lundquist (2013). The current research leaves questions to be addressed in this study, including is whether or not implicit biases predict preferences in regards to online dating, and to what extent. Is bias the appropriate term or is preference more adequate to describe the results of this study? Does the time limit differences and extent of presented profile information affect attractiveness ratings?
