Tatum Jolink
Scientists still cannot predict romantic compatibility at rates higher than chance. This mystery exists in both online dating contexts and offline first dates.
In this talk, Tatum Jolink presents a new theoretical framework for conceptualizing initial romantic interactions (i.e., online matches, first dates). Specifically, she draws upon the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat and propose that we may be able to progress the science of compatibility by considering early dating interactions as motivated performance situations. Based on the BPS model, she theorizse that when a dater’s available resources meet or exceed situational demands (i.e., challenge response) that might enhance perceived compatibility with a potential partner during an initial romantic interaction.
This talk presents preliminary data from three studies that test the framework’s core ideas. First, in two online correlational samples, 340 participants retrospectively recalled a recent first date experience; Jolink examines the association between recalled appraisals of demands and resources ahead of this first date and reported performance and perceived compatibility after the date. Then, Jolink rigorously and robustly tests this framework in the real world, using a dating app, Revel, built by relationship scientists for research purposes. In the first nine months of pilot testing, almost 1,000 participants made over 61,000 swipe decisions, which lead to over 850 matches and more than 11,000 messages. Ahead of joining Revel, participants reported their dating resources (i.e., confidence) and demands (i.e., perceived effort).
Jolink tests the hypothesis that those with challenge responses (resources>demands) will be more engaged and have greater dating success on Revel than those with threat responses (resources<demands). She explores how dating appraisals shape their dating behavior, including how often they swipe right (indicating liking), match, and chat with potential partners, as well as perceived compatibility with a match. Finally, she presents initial descriptive results (N=23) from an ongoing First Date Study, in which two people have an in-person first date in our lab. This new theoretical framework has the potential to be generative for the field of relationship initiation and yield new insights into what makes two people romantically compatible.