Section 2 Group 2 TA: Jessica PolkJue Chen, Huma Ahmed, Lauren Samhoun, Rami Khater, Xiuxiu Zhao,

Wei Zhang, Nargis Jumanova

Online Dating

Boy meets girl…

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Problems

Effects of technology on dating Motivation Deception Technology

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Disciplines

Social PsychologyComputer Science

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Questions: Social Psychology

Users – Gender and cultural differences in online dating

Motivation – Factors that influence dating behavior

Expectations – Differences between groups in what they hope to accomplish

Deception – Reasons for users to manipulate information despite eventual discovery at future face-to-face interactions

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Attachment Theory

Similarity: we like people who are like us

Reciprocity of feeling: we like people who like us

Nearness/proximity: More likely to develop relationships with people who live nearby or go to school or work with

Mere exposure effect: The more we interact with someone, the more we like them (assuming the initial reaction was positive or neutral)

Social exchange theory: We seek people with whom we can establish a roughly equal interpersonal exchange (give and take)

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Me-Harmony

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/me-harmony/229060/

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Motivation – Why Use Online Dating Services?

The most important feature of online dating sites: they allow users to reach a larger pool of potential partners Giving an increased freedom of choice They fill a gap in modern society wherein people do not

necessarily have the same access to those they are familiar and proximate as potential partners

Convenience: people are too busy, online services can “match” for them based on interests, status, financial standing, religious and moral beliefs

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Motivation - Contd.

Is an extremely useful way for people who are introverts to meet and communicate with others without social pressures

Another driving factor: Economy Relatively cheap way of meeting people Finding someone to be in a long-term relationship with is a way

for people to find comfort in hard times

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Online Dating – Hyperpersonal Communication

“Computer mediated relations (CMR) reduce the role that physical attributes play in the development of attraction and enhance other factors such as propinquity, rapport, similarity and mutual self disclosure… The Internet is a model of intimate yet separate relations. It allows adult (and teen) men and women more freedom to deviate from typically constraining gender roles that are often automatically activated in face-to-face interactions.” (Cooper and Sportolari, 1997)

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Deception

Benign: exaggerations , “white lies” Physical appearance, financial status, personality

characteristics

Malicious: harmful lies with the intent to endanger or defraud Craigslist killer Credit card scams

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Reasons for Deception

Societal expectations

Users who lie about actual appearance, finances, etc hope that in time, their online matches will overlook those differences and accept them for who they really are

Culture specific deception

People lie because they believe others are lying too 86% think that others are lying; 25% are actually lying

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Research Gaps in Social Psychology

Dating Websites How dating websites adapt their structures to

different cultural needs?

Users Research Samples should include diverse

demographics.

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Methodology for Future Research

Quantitative: Surveys

Qualitative: Content Analysis – Profiles, Pictures, Questionary Design Narrative analysis – Self-Introduction (About Me), Personal

Messages Interview Participant Observation

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Computer Science

Algorithms vs. User Defined Search

Dating websites such as eHarmony use algorithms to match people based on their preferences (age, race, ethnicity, religion) as well as personality tests that look for that look for contemporary behavior traits

Websites such such as ArabLounge and Shaadi.com allow users to search for matches based on certain demographic criteria (age, height, income, complexion) without taking into account personal compatibility

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Questions: Computer Science

Algorithms used for finding “matches”

Static vs. dynamic matches

How to verify credibility and validity of online information through data such as credit card information, location, etc.

How to increase reliability of websites to make it safer for people to use

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Gaps in Online Dating – Computer Science

Technology based solutions thus far have failed to: Validate user attributes (height, weight, name, gender) Validate salary, income and job status Validate legal status Check criminal records

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Future Methods for Improving Online Experience

All users could be checked and validated by having them enter personal identification such as credit card numbers and driver’s license

This would encourage more use, as the sites would become more efficient and less likely to attract individuals who are “window shopping” and not truly interested in the website and better ensure users’ safety

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Interdisciplinarity

Social psychology asks questionsFormulates hypotheses

Computer Science helps answer themCreates new norms

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Q + A