Although I do talk about these sites in my Soc. Psych class and suggest students explore them in relation to social psych concepts we cover, I have always felt there is much there that is missing from social psych research. For example, as Nancy noted, whenever you set up a quasi-formal organizational network you get people who "game the system" and try to reap recognition, dates, or other forms of satisfaction that are not part of the explicit aims of the system. Is this tendency related to the seemingly inherent tendencies toward corruption and system manipulation we see in social welfare bureaucracies and political networks (witness the U.S. Congress ;-). Perhaps this is more researched in political science or sociology? Gary
Gerald L. (Gary) Peterson, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychology Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI 48710 989-964-4491 [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 7, 2010 9:59:32 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [tips] Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me A Match! As a battle scarred veteran of these sites (too many to count) I am sure they probably are better than singles bars but not much. For women, the main problem (besides the escalation of mispresentation - certainly possible in "real world" dating; much more prevalent in online dating) is that it appears that a fairly large number of males on these sites are either married or living with someone. It appears that online dating gives the male style of cheating a real helping hand - men sign up as "single" and the pickings are fairly easy (women tend to cheat with familiar men, so it doesn't work so well for them, although I have no doubt that there are a few married or attached women on these sites also. For men, a lot of the women seem to be looking for "free meals". They date serially with no intention of being serious and reap those benefits. For both sexes, the number of people posting pictures from 10 years or 50 pounds ago is disheartening. And it's really disappointing to see what a sell out Fisher has become. I have very little respect for her, although she has a right to get rich any legitimate way she can. I've not given up but am rapidly concluding that if I find a suitable partner, it will most likely not be from an online dating or matchmaking site. Just my hard-won .02 Nancy Melucci Long Beach City College Long Beach CA -----Original Message----- From: Mike Palij <[email protected]> To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) <[email protected]> Cc: Mike Palij <[email protected]> Sent: Sun, Feb 7, 2010 5:36 am Subject: [tips] Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me A Match! There is an interesting little article in the NY Times about the "relationship" websites that have come into existence that try to match people on some criteria in the hopes that they form a long-lasting relationship. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/business/07stream.html?th&emc=th These websites are not geared toward personal ads for people seeking a date, rather, as might be expected, some of these websites use psychological testing or even biological testing for match-making. Consider: (1) ScientificMatch.com matches people up on the basis of genetic analysis, such as markers for the immune system as well as some defintively non-biological markers (e.g., criminal and bankruptcy check, verificiation of age and marital status, etc.) (2) Chemistry.com (a subsidiary of Match.com) has biological anthropologist Helen Fisher create a questionnaire about a person's traits and temperament. A quote from Fisher provides some insight into her views: |“If Helen Fisher can give you right off the bat individuals that your |brain is more likely to be attracted to,” she says, “so much the better.” Apparently, in matters of romance, one should focus on the brain and not the mind. Also, beware of people who refer to themselves in the third person. (3) eHarmony.com was developed by a psychologist (his name is not given in the article but he has appeared and been identified on eHarmony's TV commercials -- I don't remember it though) whose experience is in marriage counseling and tries to match people on the basis of self-reproted values, family background, and social styles. How successful are these services? That depends upon how one defines success. It is unclear how many "successful" long-term relationships have been created by these services but they do constitute about a $976 million annual industry, which many might consider to be quite successful. The article asks the question "are these two techniques at matching people better than the old ones or are they essentially similar in function?" Consider the following quote: |At the end of the day, however, it may be that the success of such |sites is attributable not so much to their proprietary methods as to |their choosy, self-selected members who don’t want to wink at and |woo the first person whose profile they read online. The sites attract |cohorts of people interested in slowing down the online dating and |mating process, in finding out more information about potential |partners — or in ruling out unlikely suitors — before they graduate |to the meet-and-greet stage. | |THE more advanced the partner prediction sites, the more they may |actually serve a more old-fashioned role. The sites provide background |details on a person’s family, education, aspirations, character, genetic |traits and general health of the type that was once public information |in farming or immigrant communities or even in hunter-gatherer societies, |Dr. Fisher says. | |Indeed, at least from the point of view of evolutionary science, you’d be |better off spending $50 — and more likely to find a mate — by using a |premium dating site than by dropping $50 on drinks in the uncertain |waters of singles bars. -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] . To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=12993.aba36cc3760e0b1c6a655f019a68b878&n=T&l=tips&o=382 or send a blank email to leave-382-12993.aba36cc3760e0b1c6a655f019a68b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] . 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