Presenter(s): Mariah Bloom
Faculty Mentor(s): Lawrence Sugiyama & Colin Brand
Poster 107
Session: Social Sciences & Humanities
30 million Americans use dating technologies. Location-based real time dating (LBRTD) apps (e.g., Tinder) allow users to access photos and short profiles of potential mates in real time, indicate interest, and communicate and arrange meetings if desired. Sexual strategies theory posits humans evolved multiple mating strategies, contextually deployed based on relevant costs and benefits. We hypothesized LBRTDs alter perceived costs and benefits of different mating strategies, leading to different patterns of sexual behavior. We administered a Qualtrics survey to UO undergraduates about dating app usage, and measures including sex, STMs, LTMs, perceptions and their Socio-sexual Orientation (SOI, indicative of STM (high SOI) vs LTM (low SOI) attitudes, preferences, and behaviors). Responses of self-identified heterosexual respondents (N=126) were analyzed. General linear models show app use associated with higher SOI (β = 0.09, p < 0.001), but not sex or self-perceived attractiveness. Number of STMs was higher for males than females (β = 4.82 p < 0.05), and positively related to SOI (β = 0.09, p < 0.01). Conversely, SOI was a negative predictor of LTMs (β = -0.04, p < 0.05). App-using men had more STMs and LTMs than non-app users. Women app users and non-users did not differ in STMs or LTMs. Thus we find mixed support for our predictions. Because sample women are near peak fertility, with high mate value, they likely can act on short-term mating desires regardless of dating app usage.