HRPYC81
Project 1 Assignment 3 2025
Unique #:853851
Due Date: 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, RESEARCH PROPOSAL
EXPLORING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF ONLINE ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIPS: MOTIVATIONS FOR DATING APP USE AND THE ROLE OF
LONELINESS
1. INTRODUCTION
In today’s digitally connected world, dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge have
transformed how people initiate and form romantic relationships. These platforms
allow users to bypass traditional dating barriers, offering increased access to
potential partners across social and geographic boundaries (Erevik et al., 2020).
While the popularity of dating apps continues to rise, especially among young adults,
psychological questions remain about what motivates individuals to use them and
how emotional needs such as loneliness may influence this behaviour.
Online romantic relationships differ from traditional offline encounters in that initial
impressions are often based on self-presentation strategies and selective criteria,
such as physical appearance and social status (Lemay et al., 2010). Furthermore,
some users may be motivated by the desire for emotional connection or
entertainment, while others may seek short-term sexual encounters (Van De Wiele &
Tong, 2014). These diverse motivations are likely influenced by the psychological
state of the user, including feelings of social loneliness.
Within the South African context, online dating is gaining momentum, particularly in
urban areas where access to mobile technology is high (Gibbs et al., 2022).
However, research examining the psychological drivers of dating app use in South
Africa remains limited. This study therefore aims to explore two key psychological
constructs: users’ motivations for dating app use and their levels of loneliness, in
order to understand how these factors relate to engagement in online romantic
relationships.
This proposal will draw from psychological and behavioural theories to assess how
these variables interact and what implications they hold for relationship formation in
the digital age.
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
Project 1 Assignment 3 2025
Unique #:853851
Due Date: 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, RESEARCH PROPOSAL
EXPLORING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF ONLINE ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIPS: MOTIVATIONS FOR DATING APP USE AND THE ROLE OF
LONELINESS
1. INTRODUCTION
In today’s digitally connected world, dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge have
transformed how people initiate and form romantic relationships. These platforms
allow users to bypass traditional dating barriers, offering increased access to
potential partners across social and geographic boundaries (Erevik et al., 2020).
While the popularity of dating apps continues to rise, especially among young adults,
psychological questions remain about what motivates individuals to use them and
how emotional needs such as loneliness may influence this behaviour.
Online romantic relationships differ from traditional offline encounters in that initial
impressions are often based on self-presentation strategies and selective criteria,
such as physical appearance and social status (Lemay et al., 2010). Furthermore,
some users may be motivated by the desire for emotional connection or
entertainment, while others may seek short-term sexual encounters (Van De Wiele &
Tong, 2014). These diverse motivations are likely influenced by the psychological
state of the user, including feelings of social loneliness.
Within the South African context, online dating is gaining momentum, particularly in
urban areas where access to mobile technology is high (Gibbs et al., 2022).
However, research examining the psychological drivers of dating app use in South
Africa remains limited. This study therefore aims to explore two key psychological
constructs: users’ motivations for dating app use and their levels of loneliness, in
order to understand how these factors relate to engagement in online romantic
relationships.
This proposal will draw from psychological and behavioural theories to assess how
these variables interact and what implications they hold for relationship formation in
the digital age.
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
