SOC271 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Situation Two, Role Theory
8 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Mate Selection and Dating Behaviour
Theories of Mate Selection:
1. Social/Structural Characteristics
- age at marriage
- residential propinquity
- social status
- religion
- race/ethnicity
2. Arranged versus free choice
3. Individualistic Explanations
- instinctive and biological theories
- parental image theory
- complementary needs theory
4. Sociocultural Explanations
- value theory
- role theory
- exchange theory
- sequential theories
A. Pre-Industrial Societies
1. marriage and the motivation to marry was non-problematic.
- husband and wife were a production team necessary for survival of the family as a unit.
2. mate selection was non-problematic - no freedom of choice
B. Urban-Industrial Societies
1. motivation to marry is problematic - marriage is not necessary for comfortable survival in
modern society
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2. mate selection is problematic - freedom of choice; relatively few constraints
C. The Dating Process
1. useful to view dating and the courtship process as a continuum with various identifiable
stages or transition points leading to a total commitment to a member of the opposite sex.
a. random or casual dating. ages 12-14
. regular datig. [hagig out]
c. goig stead, serious datig.[goig aroud]
d. engaged-to-be-egaged. [proised]
e. engaged. ages 21-25
f. cohabitation? or marriage?
2. can view dating process as a continuum from least to increasing commitment.
casual regular steady engaged
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early form of courtship advanced
less intimacy more
less knowledge of other more
3. each stage or transition in the dating process may be symbolized
4. behavioural expectations are associated with each stage
Dating stage relationship & sexual behavioural norm
casual dating - no commitment beyond initial
date
regular dating - going with one person more
than with others - implying a degree of personal
commitment
going steady - temporarily dating only one
person exclusively
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Theories of mate selection: marriage and the motivation to marry was non-problematic. [(cid:862)pro(cid:373)ised(cid:863)] can view dating process as a continuum from casual regular steady engaged early form of courtship advanced more less less knowledge of other more each stage or transition in the dating process. Dating stage relationship & sexual behavioural norm casual dating date regular dating commitment going steady behavioural expectations are associated with than with others - implying a person exclusively. Going with one person more degree of personal initial least to increasing commitment. may be symbolized each stage. Sexual gratification: mate selection. engaged-to-be- engagement - may cohabit. Lonely hearts clubs; social clubs commercial dating. Re-entry dating no built-in clientele. friends/relatives networks and work place become chief sources. Found that 80% of office workers surveyed reported some kind of social-sexual experience on the job. Women more often state what they want in a and financial security partner is personality rather than male-dominated situation.
