Goals for cross‐sex first dates: identification, measurement, and the influence of contextual factors

Abstract

Three studies identify goals that college students have for cross‐sex first dates, develop a scale to measure them, and determine how contextual factors influence reports of these goals. In study 1, college students identified goals for their most recent first dates. Study 2 developed a scale measuring have fun, reduce uncertainty, identify romantic potential, friendship, and sexual activity goals. In study 3 contextual factors (sex of initiator, alcohol availability, and partner knowledge) systematically influenced first date goals. Men and women differed in first date goals in all three studies. These goals highlight the importance of first dates as important relational events, and include multiple types of uncertainty reduction, in early relational stages.

Keywords:

• Goals
• First Dates
• Measurement
• Social Dating
• Romantic Relationship Transitions

Notes

Paul A. Mongeau (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1988) is Professor at the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. Mary Claire Morr Serewicz (Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2002) is Assistant Professor at the Department of Human Communication Studies at the University of Denver. Lona Ficara Therrien (M.A., Miami University, 1998) is director of Marketing of @Stake in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Earlier versions of this paper were presented to the Western States Communication Association in Denver, CO, in February, 1998 (study 1) and in Long Beach, CA, in March, 2002 (Studies 2 and 3). Correspondence to Paul A. Mongeau, Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871205, Tempe, AZ 85287‐1205, USA. Email: [email protected].

A detailed description of the reason for first date typology and the coding decisions are available from the first author.

The complete scale is available upon request from the first author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul A. Mongeau

Paul A. Mongeau (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1988) is Professor at the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. Mary Claire Morr Serewicz (Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2002) is Assistant Professor at the Department of Human Communication Studies at the University of Denver. Lona Ficara Therrien (M.A., Miami University, 1998) is director of Marketing of @Stake in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Earlier versions of this paper were presented to the Western States Communication Association in Denver, CO, in February, 1998 (study 1) and in Long Beach, CA, in March, 2002 (Studies 2 and 3). Correspondence to Paul A. Mongeau, Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871205, Tempe, AZ 85287‐1205, USA. Email: [email protected].