Who's wooing whom II? An experimental investigation of date‐initiation and expectancy violation

Abstract

Several recent studies focused on first date expectations and enactment. These studies indicate that men evaluate female‐initiated first dates in more sexual ways than do females. Results from these studies indicate, however, that participants report less intimacy on such dates. This study uses expectancy violation theory to investigate these apparently conflicting results. Participants evaluated either a male or female target person following a date initiation. Evaluations of targets' specific sexual expectations for the date are consistent with the notion that males may enter female‐initiated first dates with heightened sexual expectations. Results also indicate that participants evaluated date initiators as more sociable, more liberal, and less physically attractive than the person being asked.