speed dating

an approach to dating developed in the 1990s in which potential daters engage in a series of brief one-on-one encounters with other potential daters, after which each person indicates in a confidential manner whether he or she is interested in future dates with each of the people met. Only when both answer in the affirmative is contact information exchanged. Typical speed-dating events allow participants to interact with approximately 6 to 10 potential dates for 3 to 8 minutes each. The primary rationale underlying speed dating is that certain important determinants of attraction can only be evaluated in face-to-face interactions and that very brief interactions (sometimes called thin slices of behavior) are sufficient for conveying information about these determinants to potential daters.

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Psychology term of the day

November 23rd 2024

lysosome

n. see phagocytosis.