The dating game: Similarities and differences in dating scripts among college students

Abstract

Prior studies found that men’s and women’s dating expectations include many similar activities. Here, two studies are reported focusing on activities included in scripts for a “typical date” using first a more qualitative method and then a more quantitative method. Results were highly consistent across method, showing many similarities across the three dating scenes presented (initiation/meeting, date activities, and date outcomes/conclusions). Consistent with the traditional view of dating, greater expectations for sexual activities on a date were found for men while expectations for limiting of sexual activities were found to be the responsibility of women. These findings were further explored to focus on the effects of prior sexual experience, college experience, and membership in a Greek social organization in Study 2. Clear differences are found with sexual experience and Greek membership across the three dating scenes. It is especially notable that membership in Greek organizations for men created dating scripts that were discrepant with both those of younger men as well as younger and older women regardless of Greek status. Understanding these differences in expectations becomes critical when older men date younger women, an event fairly typical in colleges and universities.