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Who Did I Swipe On? Accuracy and Self-Presentation in Online Dating
Sarra Jiwa1, Norhan Elsaadawy1,2, Erika N Carlson1
1University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Online daters aim for accurate and positive self-presentation. While they control their persona, personality transparency varies, influenced by individual differences like attachment styles.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Media Studies
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Online dating is a prevalent method for forming relationships.
- Self-presentation and accuracy in online dating profiles are critical for partner selection.
- Limited research exists on the extent of personality misrepresentation in online dating.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate self-presentational motivations in online dating.
- To assess the accuracy of personality perception from dating profiles.
- To identify individual differences influencing self-presentation and accuracy.
Main Methods:
- 180 online daters (targets) submitted profiles and self-reported personality.
- Targets described their desired impression.
- 196 judges rated targets' personalities based on profiles.
Main Results:
- Daters desired accurate and positive self-portrayals.
- Targets successfully managed their presented persona, limiting personality "leakage".
- Self-presentation strategies and accuracy were linked to outcomes and individual differences (e.g., attachment).
Conclusions:
- Online daters can control their self-presentation to appear accurately and positively.
- Personality transparency in online dating is manageable, not inherent.
- Self-presentational goals and individual differences are crucial for understanding online dating dynamics.
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