Mini Research Proposal

Scenario Four: Attraction and Relationships

After being in a long-term relationship Alisha is suddenly single again. In fact, it seems to Alisha that her professional and social circle is becoming more and more populated with people who are in a similar situation. Alisha often hears from her friends and acquaintances how difficult dating can be and she has experienced this as well. The friends commiserate often over the difficulty of dating and how hard it is to meet someone they are attracted to that will lead to a long term relationship. Alisha and her friends have used various methods of dating such as matchmaking websites and speed dating but none of these have resulted in lasting, meaningful relationships. Alisha thinks that part of the problem may be a lack of understanding of the social psychology of attraction.

Alisha, an entrepreneur, has decided to start her own matchmaking business. However, Alisha wants her business to be different from other matchmaking companies. She wants to focus on highlighting the factors that are likely to lead to meaningful intimate relationships rather than simple physical attraction. Alisha is also considering whether meeting someone online is the best approach for discovering lasting love. She acknowledges that it is a popular approach but would also like to consider whether speed dating is a more effective approach in terms of finding a mate. Alisha recognizes that she is a talented businesswoman but does not know much about the social psychology of dating, attraction, and relationships.

Before launching her new matchmaking business Alisha needs to do some research on the science behind love and attraction. She wants to know what factors lead us to like and love others, such as whether opposites really do attract, and what factors contribute to enabling close relationships as opposed to superficial attraction. Additionally, she needs to know whether the best approach is an online dating service or a speed dating service.

Alisha has retained you, an applied social psychology expert, to provide a scholarly analysis of the scientific, peer-reviewed literature on the factors related to attraction and intimacy such as theories of interpersonal attraction, similarity versus complementarity, Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love, factors that enable intimacy, and the success of internet/online dating versus speed dating. You must also render an opinion as to whether Alisha’s business should be an online matchmaking service or focus on speed dating, as well as what factors of attraction are

Applied Social Psychology Scenarios for Intervention Proposal likely to lead to close, lasting relationships. Your opinion should be based on the scientific, peerreviewed social psychology research that you reviewed. The following peer-reviewed journal articles are a good place to start to familiarize yourself with the social psychology of interpersonal attraction in the internet age.

Finkel, E.J., Eastwick, P.W., Karney, B.R., Reis, H.T., & Sprecher, S. (2012). Online dating: A critical analysis from the perspective of psychological science. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 13, 3-66.

Riela, S., Rodriguez, G., Aron, A., Xu, X., Acevedo, B.P. (2010). Experiences of falling in love: Investigating culture, ethnicity, gender, and speed. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27, 473-493