Online Research Reveals Preferences of Men in Digital Dating: Aiming for Superior Matches - Investigation reveals preference of males in online dating for elevated experiences
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal PLOS One, researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Charles University in Prague, and the University of Manchester delved into the world of digital dating. The study, titled "Digital Dating Study: Men Aim High," analysed data from a Czech dating app to uncover patterns in heterosexual users' behaviour.
The research revealed that while men tend to pursue women who are more desirable than themselves, successful matches predominantly occur between men and women with similar levels of desirability. This pattern aligns with the saying "birds of a feather flock together," suggesting that people tend to pair up with those more alike to themselves in key traits such as desirability.
The team statistically accounted for the imbalance in the app's user base, which had a significant majority of men, to ensure the results weren't skewed. They categorized users based on their desirability, determined by the number of 'likes' or 'swipes' they received from the opposite sex.
The study was conducted in Prague and the second-largest city, Brno, in the Czech Republic. It analysed data from 2,321 users from Prague and 624 from Brno, collected in July 2017. The pattern observed in the study is mainly a result of rejections from more desirable partners, rather than an initial preference for similarity.
Contrary to the popular belief that women tend to target men who are less desirable, the study found that women, on average, tend to target men who are on a similar or slightly lower level than themselves. This trend supports the idea that successful matches tend to align more with women's preferences than men's.
The study provides valuable insights into the behaviour of people searching for a flirt or love online, and it supports the notion that romantic connections predominantly form between individuals of comparable desirability in digital dating. This finding indicates that the pattern holds beyond US and Western European contexts.
The research was led by Renata Topinkova from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and Tomas Diviak from the University of Manchester. However, it's important to note that the dating app did not record users' motivations, which can vary greatly, from seeking a one-night stand to looking for a long-term relationship.
As online dating continues to grow in popularity, the study acknowledges the need for further research, such as studies on other apps with more advanced algorithms, to fully understand the dynamics of digital dating. The research published in PLOS One offers a significant step towards this understanding, providing a clearer picture of how desirability influences the formation of connections in the digital dating landscape.
[1] Topinkova, R., Diviak, T., & Hames, M. (2018). Digital Dating Study: Men Aim High. PLOS One, 13(10), e0205571. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0205571
- The findings of the study suggest that individuals, regardless of location, tend to pair up with those more similar in terms of desirability, echoing the saying "birds of a feather flock together."
- In addition to dating preferences, the research highlights the significance of employment in digital dating, considering that users' desirability was determined by the number of 'likes' or 'swipes' they received – a form of 'employment' within the app.
- As online dating continues to expand, further research is necessary, delving into other apps with advanced algorithms and investigating the diverse motivations behind users' behavior, ranging from health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, love-and-dating, and relationships.
- The results of this study provide a substantial contribution to the science ofdating, offering a clearer understanding of how desirability impacts the formation of connections in the digital dating landscape, affecting communities worldwide.
