Self-Monitoring and Dating
Courtney Borovskis, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Change is an unavoidable force that affects various aspects of our lives, including the preferences and styles of different generations. However, there is one area where societal evolution seems to stagnate. Irrespective of our age or generation, we are expected to adhere to social conventions by seeking a partner and engaging in a committed relationship.
The primary focus of social behavior studies in society has been on romantic relationships. Researchers have extensively examined and analyzed this particular aspect through various experiments. The objective of this research paper is to explore the impact of self-monitoring on dating. The psychological concept of self-monitoring connects all these experiments and discoveries.
The theory of self-monitoring examines how individuals regulate their behavior, particularly in relation to romantic partners. It proposes that people are aware of how they are perceived by potential partners and make efforts to enhance their appeal and establish positive connections. This theory classifies individuals into two categories: high self-monitors and low self-monitors. High self-monitors actively observe themselves and desire validation and positive reactions from others.
The passage explores the distinctions between high self-monitors and low self-monitors in social settings. High self-monitors exhibit greater control over their expressions, adapting their behavior, beliefs, attitudes, and dispositions to fit the specific social context. Conversely, low self-monitors remain authentic to themselves without feeling the need to falsify their true selves for acceptance. Both terms – “high self-monitors” and “low-self monitors” – have been used for many years, allowing researchers ample opportunity to extensively study individuals falling into these respective categories. Extensive research has consistently demonstrated that high self-monitors significantly alter their behavior based on the circumstances they find themselves in while low-self monitors remain consistently genuine. This distinction is firmly established and supported by numerous researchers.
Norris and Zweigenhaft (Norris, Stacy L., Zweigenhaft, Richard L.) conducted an experiment to investigate the correlation between self-monitoring and trust. They included both male and female participants in their study, focusing on college students in the US. The primary emphasis was on commitment and relationships. Another research by David Shaffer and Dorris Bazzini added a new element to the concept of self-monitors. Their findings suggested that when partners are selected from a large pool of candidates, there is limited evidence of self-monitoring in dating situations.
Shaffer and Bazzini’s experiment with 50 male and 50 female undergraduate participants consistently found that men prioritize attractiveness when selecting a partner. Additionally, they support the idea that some individuals modify themselves to appear more appealing to others. On a related note, Jeffrey Hall, Namkee Park, Hayeon Song, and Michael Cody take the concept of self-monitoring to a higher degree.
Examining factors such as gender, self-monitoring, the big five personality traits, and demographic characteristics, researchers found that individuals with greater extrinsic motives tend to be high self-monitors, while those with low self-monitoring exhibit more intrinsic motives. They conclude that self-monitoring is the most influential factor in addressing misrepresentation in dating (Hall, Jeffrey A., Park, Namkee, Song, Hayeon, Cody, Michael). Melinda Jones conducted a study at the University of Pittsburgh involving 231 undergraduates. Her findings supported the theory proposed by Hall, Park, Song, and Cody. Jones conducted two separate studies focusing on high self-monitors and low self-monitors respectively (Jones, Melinda). Despite being conducted at different times and in different ways, all four studies yielded similar results.
The text indicates that all the theories presented in Mark Snyder and Jeffry Simpson’s target article are in line with each other. It highlights a common belief in our society that people are always searching for a significant other. The studies mentioned have confirmed the existence of two distinct categories in the way people find their partner. These categories, determined through various experiments involving undergraduate participants, are known as high self-monitoring and low self-monitoring. Both categories exhibit distinct characteristics.
After conducting extensive research and a personal experiment at Ramapo College, it has been concluded that self-monitoring greatly affects the dating process. The key factor in this discovery is self-esteem. Individuals with a positive self-perception have a higher tendency to authentically showcase their true attributes, leading to reduced self-awareness within relationships. On the other hand, those with low self-esteem tend to excessively monitor themselves, ultimately influencing their future relationships.
My experiment investigates the dating behaviors of individuals with high self-monitoring. The results indicate that they participate in more frequent, yet shorter-duration dating experiences. However, they are more inclined to choose a partner when seeking romantic or friendship relationships. Conversely, individuals with low self-monitoring tend to date for longer periods and feel more comfortable selecting a friend for activities. In conclusion, I anticipate that a higher proportion of low self-monitoring individuals will be exclusively engaged in dating compared to those with high self-monitoring tendencies.
The study aims to examine the self-monitoring and dating behaviors of students at Ramapo College of New Jersey. To ensure reliable and meaningful results that can be compared with our hypothesis, we initially surveyed 161 volunteers from across the entire campus of Ramapo College. However, for this specific project, our focus was on the bottom 25% and top 25% percentiles, excluding the middle 50% from the analysis.
The final number of undergraduate students who volunteered to participate in the experiment was 105 after removing the middle 50%. These participants, aged between 18-25, were divided into lower and higher percentiles with 47 individuals in the former and 58 individuals in the latter. The gender distribution consisted of 63 women and 42 men. The procedure involved selecting the experiment, completing surveys, and gathering the participants. In my presence, each participant was then read a cover story.
In my Social Psychology class, I conduct a study to collect data on various topics. I emphasize the confidentiality of all answers and assure participants that they can choose to withdraw at any time. To start the experiment, I provide each participant with a consent form and proceed once I receive their verbal consent. The study involves a two-page survey that asks about their dating history and current relationship status. After each participant completes the survey, I analyze the collected data and compile the results.
The dependent variable for my experiment is the type of relationship and dating behavior of the participants, as well as their self-monitoring category (high or low). The independent variable, which I as the experimenter cannot control, is the actual participants, specifically college undergraduates aged 18-15 enrolled in Ramapo College. Unlike the target article, I did not provide the participants with actual subjects.
The survey involved participants envisioning themselves in various scenarios and responding to a specific inquiry. Despite using different approaches to carry out the experiment, our primary objective remained consistent, enabling us to compare and evaluate the outcomes. The results of my investigation were extremely captivating. Prior to distributing the survey and gathering data, I posited that individuals exhibiting high self-monitoring characteristics would have brief yet frequent dating encounters while being selective when choosing friends or partners.
Individuals with low self-monitoring tendencies have a preference for longer relationships and socializing with friends over romantic partners. More individuals with low self-monitoring traits are likely to choose exclusive dating compared to those with high self-monitoring traits. The research findings indicate that the duration of exclusive dating among participants is statistically significant, as confirmed by a p-value of .048, which falls below the threshold of .05.
Through my research, I have discovered a correlation between the duration of a relationship and an individual’s self-esteem in relation to their self-monitoring behavior. Specifically, individuals with low self-monitoring tendencies had an average score of 14.5667 (SD = 17.25605), while those with high self-monitoring tendencies had an average score of 11.9583 (SD = 9.46609). This was the only significant finding in my study.
Regarding the preference for a partner or friend among high and low self-monitors, the results were not statistically significant (p = .60). Low self-monitors had an average score of 1.1222 (SD = .22289), while high self-monitors had an average score of 1.0972 (SD = .18334).
Similarly, when considering participants who were not exclusively dating, there were no significant findings either. The p-value for comparing low and high self-monitors based on the number of dates they went on during the current year was .890. Low self-monitors went on an average of 1.5682 dates (SD = 1.7266), whereas high self-monitors went on an average of 1.6182 dates (SD = 1.71584).
The main objective of this experiment was to replicate Study 2 and Study conducted by Mark Snyder and Jeffry Simpson, where they found that high self-monitors from Study 2 were more open to potentially replacing their current partner with a friend of the opposite genderIn addition, Study 3 found that individuals who are high self-monitors have dated more people in the last year, leading to shorter relationships.
Contrary to expectations, the experiment yielded slightly different results. It was observed that individuals with a strong inclination towards self-monitoring were less inclined to replace their current partners with opposite-sex friends. However, despite this distinction, several similarities between our studies emerged. In my research, participants who were not exclusively dating and exhibited high self-monitoring tendencies demonstrated a greater propensity for shorter-term dating with multiple individuals, aligning with Snyder and Simpson’s findings. We anticipated that our respective studies would produce comparable outcomes.
Our participant database was built using a similar generation as Snyder and Simpson. We gathered data from a university, specifically targeting the undergraduate population. It is evident that dating and relationships hold varying significance across different generations. The expectations within a dating or a more serious relationship differ based on age and personal circumstances. Therefore, since I selected participants from the same age range as Snyder and Simpson, it was inevitable for my findings to align with theirs.
Both my own experiment and the one conducted by Snyder and Simpson do not violate any ethical guidelines. In class, we discussed various ethical concerns, particularly experimenter bias. However, it is evident that neither experimental procedure exhibits any bias. There is a potential for demand characteristics to affect a study like this, where participants may try to understand the purpose of the experimenter and unconsciously alter their behavior. Nevertheless, in my specific experiment, I believe that demand characteristics did not influence my results in any way.
However, since I did not require my participants to take any action and only asked them questions, this type of bias would not be relevant. Another topic that was discussed in class and may affect various experiments is confounds. These are underlying variables that could affect the results by creating a false connection between the dependent and independent variables. In this particular experiment, there is no space for confounds to affect the results or the credibility of my findings.
In psychology, construct validity is constantly questioned. This refers to whether or not the measurement tool, such as a survey in this study, accurately measures the concept under study. In this specific study, I believe that the survey properly measures the role of a person’s personality and self-esteem (high or low self-monitors) in their dating and relationship.
This study in psychology examines ethical standards and considers variables and potential issues during an experiment. The results reveal a significant connection between an individual’s personality and their self-esteem, especially in their interactions with possible partners. This correlation was specifically observed among undergraduate students at Ramapo College.
References: Hall, J.A., Park, N., Song, H., & Cody, M.
{@source-Journal(‘Strategic misrepresentation in online dating: The effects of gender, self-monitoring, and personality traits’, ‘J. (2010)’, ‘doi:10. 1177/0265407509349633’)}
{@source-Journal(‘Self-monitoring and dating relationships’, ‘Snyder, M., & Simpson, J. A. (1984)’, ‘doi:10. 1037/0022-3514. 47. 6. 1281’)}
{@source-Journal(‘Influence of self-monitoring on dating motivations’, ‘Jones, M. (1993)’, ‘doi:10. 1006/jrpe. 1993. 1014’)}
{@source-Journal(‘Self-monitoring, trust, and commitment in romantic relationships’, ‘Norris, S. L., & Zweigenhaft, R. L. (1999)’, ‘doi:10. 1080/00224549909598375’)}
{@source-Journal(‘What do you look for in a prospective date? Reexamining the preferences of men and women who differ in self-monitoring propensities’, ‘Shaffer, D. R., & Bazzini, D. G. (1997)’, ‘doi:10. 1177/0146167297236004’)}
