Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026
13:40
Combining Computer Game-Based Behavioural Experiments With High-Density EEG and Infrared Gaze Tracking
Published on: December 16, 2010
16.1K
"Where Have All the Good Men Gone?" Gendered Interactions in Online Dating.
Derek A Kreager1, Shannon E Cavanagh, John Yen
1Department of Sociology and Crime, Law, and Justice, Pennsylvania State University, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6207.
Journal of Marriage and the Family
|June 10, 2014
Summary
Men and women message the most desirable partners in online dating. Women initiating contact gain more desirable partners but message less frequently, impacting union formation.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Online Dating Behavior
- Relationship Formation
Background:
- Traditional gender norms influence partner selection in heterosexual relationships.
- Online dating platforms are increasingly central to modern union formation.
- Understanding early-stage dating dynamics is crucial for explaining long-term relationship outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gendered patterns in online dating message initiation and partner selection.
- To examine how social desirability influences partner preferences in online dating.
- To determine the role of reciprocity in heterosexual union formation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of six months of online dating data from a mid-sized southwestern city.
- Inclusion of data from 8,259 men and 6,274 women.
- Examination of messaging behavior and partner desirability.
Main Results:
- Both men and women message the most socially desirable partners, irrespective of their own desirability.
- Women initiating contact connect with more desirable partners than those who wait.
- Women are four times less likely to initiate messages compared to men.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic similarities in long-term unions may arise from relationship termination (nonreciprocity).
- Initial partner preferences do not fully explain socioeconomic convergence in relationships.
- Gendered communication patterns in online dating significantly shape heterosexual union formation.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
421
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
421
02:12Relationship Formation
28.4K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
28.4K
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
77.8K
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who...
77.8K
02:19The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness
7.0K
The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in several vertebrates and mammals, including humans. In addition to 22 pairs of autosomes, the human males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. In these organisms, the presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines the development of male traits.
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size....
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size....
7.0K
01:23Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
513
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
513
01:26Desirable Characteristics in Others
212
Various factors, including the type of relationship, gender, and duration of the relationship, influence the perception of desirable characteristics in others. While certain traits such as trustworthiness, cooperativeness, agreeableness, and extraversion are universally valued across all relationships, other characteristics are context-dependent and gain prominence based on specific relational dynamics.Universal and Context-Dependent TraitsTrustworthiness and cooperativeness are fundamental...
212