Dating is a stage of romantic relationships in humans whereby
two people meet socially with the aim of each assessing the other's
suitability as a prospective partner in an intimate relationship or marriage. It is a form of courtship, consisting of social activities
done by the couple, either alone or with others. The protocols and
practices of dating, and the terms used to describe it, vary
considerably from country to country and over time. While the term has
several meanings, the most frequent usage refers to two people exploring
whether they are romantically or sexually compatible by participating
in dates with the other. With the use of modern technology, people can
date via telephone or computer or meet in person.
Dating may also involve two or more people who have already decided
that they share romantic or sexual feelings toward each other. These
people will have dates on a regular basis, and they may or may not be
having sexual relations. This period of courtship is sometimes seen as a precursor to engagement.Some cultures require people to wait until a certain age to begin dating, which has been a source of controversy.
Different meanings of the term
While the term dating has many meanings, the most common
refers to a trial period in which two people explore whether to take the
relationship further towards a more permanent relationship; in this
sense, dating refers to the time when people are physically together in
public as opposed to the earlier time period in which people are
arranging the date, perhaps by corresponding by email or text or phone. Another meaning of the term dating
is to describe a stage in a person's life when he or she is actively
pursuing romantic relationships with different people. If two unmarried
celebrities are seen in public together, they are often described as
"dating" which means they were seen in public together, and it is not
clear whether they are merely friends, exploring a more intimate
relationship, or are romantically involved. A related sense of the term
is when two people have been out in public only a few times but have not
yet committed to a relationship; in this sense, dating describes an initial trial period and can be contrasted with "being in a committed relationship".
Love
The prospect of love often entails anxiety, sometimes with a fear of commitment and a fear of intimacy for persons of both sexes.
One woman said "being really intimate with someone in a committed sense
is kind of threatening" and described love as "the most terrifying
thing." In her Psychology Today column, research scientist, columnist, and author Debby Herbenick compared it to a roller coaster:
There's something wonderful, I think, about taking chances on love and sex. ... Going out on a limb can be roller-coaster scary because none of us want to be rejected or to have our heart broken. But so what if that happens? I, for one, would rather fall flat on my face as I serenade my partner (off-key and all) in a bikini and a short little pool skirt than sit on the edge of the pool, dipping my toes in silence.
One dating adviser agreed that love is risky, and wrote that "There
is truly only one real danger that we must concern ourselves with and
that is closing our hearts to the possibility that love exists."
Technology
The Internet is shaping the way new generations date. Facebook, Skype, Whatsapp,
and other applications have made remote connections possible.
Particularly for the LGBTQ+ community, where the dating pool can be more
difficult to navigate due to discrimination and having a 'minority'
status in society.
Online dating tools are an alternate way to meet potential dates. Many people use smartphone apps such as Tinder, Grindr, or Bumble which allow a user to accept or reject another user with a single swipe of a finger.
Some critics have suggested that matchmaking algorithms are imperfect
and are "no better than chance" for the task of identifying acceptable
partners. Others have suggested that the speed and availability of emerging
technologies may be undermining the possibility for couples to have
long-term meaningful relationships when finding a replacement partner
has potentially become too easy.
