Choosing the right mate when everyone is watching: Cultural and sex differences in television dating games

Abstract

A cross‐cultural study was conducted to determine whether there are cultural and sex differences in mate selection choices displayed by ordinary men and women (ranging in age from 16 to 24) participating in television dating games in the United States and in Israel. A content analysis of 80 programs from both countries yielded 258 topical categories (76 from American shows; 182 from Israeli shows) used to screen potential mates. American females used physical categories to select potential mates slightly less often than did Israeli females. Americans, regardless of sex, employed physical categories slightly less often than did Israelis. There was no significant difference between American males and Israeli males, nor between males, in general, and Israeli females. American females, however, differed significantly from males in general, regardless of which country they came from, as well as from Israeli females in their choice of mate selection categories. These results support Fiske's (1990) theory that television dating games are contra‐stereotypical with regard to sex.

Key concepts:

• Television game shows
• mate selection
• Israel
• cross‐cultural