First-Date Expectations: The Impact of Sex of Initiator, Alcohol Consumption, and Relationship Type

Mary Claire Morr, Paul Mongeau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of three factors (sex of initiator, alcohol consumption, and relationship type) relevant to the dominant American first-date script concerning communication and sexual expectations for first dates. After reading a hypothetical scenario describing a date initiation, 218 college students indicated the expectations they would have if they were the person going on the date. Results indicated that men have higher sexual expectations than do women and that participants' sexual expectations are heightened when alcohol is available. Alcohol availability had complex effects on expectations for communication intimacy. Participants expected more intimate communication when dating partners were close friends than when they were casual acquaintances.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3-35
Number of pages33
JournalCommunication Research
Volume31
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2004

Keywords

  • Alcohol
  • Dating
  • Expectancy
  • Interpersonal
  • Intimacy
  • Sexuality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Communication
  • Linguistics and Language

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