1
Social Sciences: Dating and Relationships
Dulce Charrez-Cervantes
ENC 1101
Professor Thomas
September 13, 2020
Social Sciences: Dating and Relationships
Within recent years, dating has not been made easy for Americans. According to a
Pew Research Center survey, “nearly half (47%) of all Americans had said dating was
harder today than it was 10 years ago, a third of adults (33%) said dating is about the
same as it was a decade ago, and 19% said it’s easier (Barroso, 2020).” Based on these
results, it is easy to say that the desire to date and create relationships will begin to
plummet. However, there are solutions to this complication. Dating for adults can be
, DATING AND RELATIONSHIPS
2
improved by recognizing the flaws of online dating, giving confidence to those with low
self-esteem, and providing more improvements within dating sites.
It should be considered that adults already have personal problems to deal with, so
these dating and relationships troubles have not made it better. Based on a study by
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, it has shown that the closeness and
satisfaction from their partner online was “weak” compared to face-to-face
communication. In order to create a close bond in a relationship, trust and affection must
form. When this trust between the partners in the relationship form, it will encourage
more time spent together, thus strengthening the relationship. Dating and relationships
has also been a problem due to “the subtext message [of online dating] is that love,
intimacy, and sexual activity are available only to those older adults who are ‘young
forever’ and do not face, cope with, or show any visible signs of aging” (Gewirtz-
Meydan, Ayalon, 2017). With all the advertised high standards, the turnout would be
applicants with low self-esteem. With the fear of being rejected, it would also dismiss the
opportunities that could’ve been if dating had been given a chance. There has also been a
difference in preferences in people such as “finding someone looking for the same type of
relationship (53%), finding it hard to approach people (46%) and finding someone who
meets their expectations (43%) (Barroso, 2020).” With the advances in the modern world,
it would be thought that there would be enough services to narrow down the perfect
match. However, with the recent data, it would seem that society is going backwards
within the relationship realms. Given these points, it is clearly seen that there might be
trouble in paradise after all, but with help, these problems can be overcome.
If resources were offered to fix the flaws within dating and relationships, second