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CHAPTER
07
WHAT ARE THE HISTORICAL AND CURRENT TRENDS IN DATING
AND MATE SELECTION? 117
Dating in the United States has evolved from elaborate public
courtship rituals to modern dating practices that include going
steady, pack dating, serious dating, and engagement. Partners typically meet through friends or at work, but singles also use online
dating and speed dating to meet their mates. Dating practices are
influenced age, social class, education, gender, race, and sexuality.
Dating violence is prevalent in many relationships, and date rape is
the most common form of sexual assault.
HOW DO THEORISTS VIEW DATING AND MATE SELECTION?
124
Structural functionalists view dating as the socially accepted forerunner to marriage, and therefore believe it has a stabilizing effect on
society. Conflict theorists believe that groups compete for scarce
resources within society, with dominant groups struggling to keep
power by maintaining the status quo. Hence, supporters of traditional marriage wish to prevent gay and lesbian couples from marrying.
Symbolic interactionists believe that interactions between friends and
family members and within society at large shape our cultural norms
and values, influencing our perceptions of potential dating partners.
CHAPTER 07
128
HOW ARE COUPLES AND FAMILIES FINDING CREATIVE WAYS
TO DATE? 127
Couples and families are finding increasingly creative ways to fit
dates into their changing lifestyles and to keep dating fresh and
exciting. Modern creative dating includes family dates, educational
dates, and charitable dates.
Theory
FUNCTIONALISM
124
• mating practices contribute to the stabilization or destabilization of
social institutions
• social values, gender roles, and demographics influence dating habits
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
•
•
CONFLICT THEORY
125
• conflict exists between both groups and individuals within society
• individuals minimize the possibility of conflict by choosing a mate with
similar values, attitudes, and beliefs as theirs
125
individual perceptions are shaped through interactions with others
people interpret meanings based on gestures and symbols
Key Terms
honor killings happen when a family member perceives that a female relative will bring or has brought
shame on the family, usually through a suspected
breech of cultural traditions or religious morals 116
courtship is a publicly visible dating process with
specific rules and restrictions 117
dating is when two people meet at an agreed upon
time and place to partake in a social activity 117
marriage market is a system in which prospective partners evaluate the assets and liabilities of
potential spouses and choose the best available
mate 118
going steady is dating one person
exclusively 118
pack dating is dating in small groups without
committing to one person 118
engagement is the public commitment to
marry 118
prenuptial agreement is a legal document
stipulating financial arrangements in the event of a
divorce 119
disengagement is the breakdown of an
engagement 119
online dating is when people use specialized
dating Web sites such as Match.com or
eHarmony to meet a potential spouse 119
speed dating is an accelerated form of dating
in which men and women choose whether to
see each other again based on a very short
interaction 119
interdating is when people date members of
other racial or ethnic groups 121
marginalized group is a group relegated to a
social standing outside the mainstream 121
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(continued)
dating violence is the perpetration or threat of an
act of violence against a person in the context of a
relationship, including sexual assault, physical
abuse, and verbal or emotional abuse 121
date rape is the act of forcing sexual intercourse
on a non-consenting date or partner 122
parent image theory is the psychoanalytic theory that men are more likely to select women
who resemble their mothers, whereas women are
more likely to select men who look like their
fathers 122
ideal mate theory is the psychoanalytic theory
that people develop a model image of their mate
based on their early childhood experiences 122
complementary needs theory is the theory
that suggests people select mates whose
needs are opposite but complementary to
their own 122
exchange theory is the theory that uses the
concepts of rewards and costs to explain
interpersonal attraction 122
developmental process theory is the theory of
mate selection in which individuals narrow down
their choice of mate using a filtering system 123
field of eligibles is the group of people
whom society defines as acceptable marriage
partners 123
propinquity is geographic closeness 123
homogamy is the tendency to marry someone of
the same race, class, age, and educational background; also called endogamy 123
heterogamy is the practice of marrying someone
outside your own race, religion, or age group; also
called exogamy 123
dowry is the material goods paid by the bride’s
family to the groom’s family to increase their status
by the marriage 124
dysfunction is the negative consequence of a
social structure 124
sex ratio is the relationship between the number
of men and the number of women of a given age
in a society 125
consensus is an agreement that is achieved in
mate selection by choosing a partner with similar
values and beliefs 125
Sample Test Questions
MULTIPLE CHOICE
ESSAY
These multiple-choice questions are similar to those found in the test
bank that accompanies this textbook.
at a religious institution
at a nightclub or bar
at work or school
through family or friends
3. Which of these statements about dating practices is TRUE?
a. Homosexual couples are typically happier than heterosexual
couples.
b. Traditional gender roles no longer exist during a typical date.
c. Age differences are greatest in couples who marry at younger
ages and smaller between those who marry at older ages.
d. The higher the social class an individual is in, the more restricted
he or she is likely to be regarding dating practices.
4. Dating violence:
a. is usually a one-time event and does not recur.
b. is common among young adults but not teenagers.
c. occurs more often when abusers have experienced physical
aggression by a parent.
the advantages and disadvantages of each.
3. Analyze differences in gender in modern dating practices.
4. Choose one of the theories of mate selection and discuss its
strengths and weaknesses.
5. How do changing family compositions affect modern dating
practices?
WHERE TO START YOUR RESEARCH PAPER
For more information about the history of dating, go to
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O119-CourtshipandDating.html
For more data on dating violence statistics, go to
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/dating_violence.htm
For more information about teen dating violence, go to
http://www.focusas.com/Abuse-TeenDatingViolence.html
To find out more about online dating, go to
http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/
For more information about speed dating, go to
http://www.datingtrail.co.uk/history_speed_dating.php
For more information about modern arranged marriages, go to
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/family/15439136.html
To find out more about the theories of mate selection, go to
http://family.jrank.org/pages/1145/Mate-Selection-Factors-inRelationship.html
d. is often attributed to an unwillingness to take charge in a
relationship.
5. According to the parent image theory, 26-year-old Danielle is most
likely to:
select
select
select
select
a
a
a
a
mate
mate
mate
mate
who resembles her father.
who resembles her mother.
with similar characteristics to her father.
with similar characteristics to her mother.
Answers: 1. a; 2. c; 3. d; 4. c; 5. a
a.
b.
c.
d.
Remember to check www.thethinkspot.com for additional information, downloadable flashcards, and other helpful resources.
Choosing a Partner
a.
b.
c.
d.
2. Choose three common ways of meeting a partner and assess
129
1. What are the three components of the marriage market?
a. supply, preferences, and resources
b. supply, demand, and needs
c. resources, exchange, and needs
d. rewards, costs, and preferences
2. How do MOST people meet their long-term partners?
1. Discuss the current dating trends in the United States.