The Psychology of Online & Offline Dating

Over the past two decades, the way people meet potential partners has changed dramatically. In the past, couples were more likely to meet through friends, family, work, education, or social activities such as going to bars. Today, online dating has become an increasingly common way to meet someone, with more than half of couples in the US reportedly meeting online (see graph).

Online dating offers some apparent advantages. It gives us access to a much larger pool of potential partners, allows us to filter for certain characteristics and preferences, and makes it possible to connect with people we might never otherwise encounter.

At the same time, it raises some interesting questions. Does having so many options make it harder to commit to one person? Does choosing potential partners based on profiles and photographs encourage more superficial ways of evaluating others? Has dating become something closer to shopping, where we browse, compare, and move on in search of a better option?

And perhaps most importantly, how has the rise of online dating changed the way we think about relationships, attraction, and meeting people in everyday life?

In this group discussion, we'll explore questions such as:

1. What does dating success mean to us, both online and offline?
2. What makes someone a compatible partner, and how do we recognise that compatibility?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of meeting people through dating apps compared with meeting them in everyday life?
4. How has online dating changed our expectations, behaviour, and attitudes towards relationships?
5. Does having more potential partners to choose from make it easier or harder to find someone?
6. Why do some people enjoy online dating, while others find it uncomfortable, frustrating, or off-putting?

This is an open group discussion, not an expert talk or workshop. The idea is to exchange experiences, questions, and perspectives and see what we can learn from one another.

No preparation is required. Come ready to share, listen, and explore the topic together.

We will also have time to talk about ourselves and brainstorm ideas for future meetups.

See you soon.
Ángel

Venue: Kavárna Pražírna. I haven't reserved a table, so we'll find a spot when we arrive.