Posted March 20, Reviewed by Gary Drevitch. Young people on the dating scene are often stereotyped as looking for casual partners. But is this a fair characterization?
The truth is that many young people are not interested in meaningless intimacy , but meaningful engagement. Sure enough, research reveals that even today, amidst a smorgasbord of dating options both online and off, many young people view casual encounters as a pathway to permanence.
Older people may remember a different dating culture. Nobody looked for a date from the privacy of their bedroom using a computer screen, and yet somehow singles managed to mix and mingle.
So, aside from the method, what about the motives? Were they any different than they are today? Heather Hensman Kettrey and Aubrey D. However, they note that hookups are much more likely to involve acquaintances than strangers. In fact, they note that college students who do not believe hookups can lead to relationships are unlikely to hook up in the first place. Of the factors Kettrey and Johnson examined, including partner demographics, situational variables, interpersonal setting, and emotions experienced afterward, they found that post-hookup reactions were most strongly correlated with interest in a future hookup, and interest in a relationship.
They note that their findings suggest familiarity with a partner and experiencing positive feelings afterward are the best predictors of subsequent interest. Despite its prevalence, however, hookup behavior is often shrouded in stigma. Kettrey and Johnson note that both young men and women may be judged or disrespected for their hookup behavior, whether actual or perceived.
