Do Women Pick Up Lies before Men? The Association between Gender, Deception Patterns, and Detection Modes in Online Dating
Journal Title: Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies - Year 2013, Vol 3, Issue 3
Abstract
Due to its particular conditions, the Internet increases opportunities for lies and deception compared to offline interactions. In online dating, misrepresentation of the self is an issue of particular relevance. Previous studies have shown that searching for a mate online is accompanied by a high risk of being deceived. This paper focuses on the rarely-considered perspective of the receivers of deception. Our study will first investigate deception patterns of men and women in online dating profiles. In a second step, modes of detecting deception (email, telephone, face-to-face, etc.) are analyzed. Using online survey data of 3,535 users of a German dating site, results show (1) gender-specific deception patterns: Women are more likely to misrepresent their physical attractiveness; men are more likely to misrepresent information on marital status, intended relationship, and height. (2) These gender-specific deception patterns are associated with specific detection modes. Women are more likely to detect specific male deceptions during e-mail communication in an early stage of dating, whereas men are more likely to detect specific female deceptions at the first face-to-face meeting. These results highlight the link between different kinds of deception, characteristics of the receiver and its detection via different communication technologies. Implications of the results for the mating process are discussed.
Authors and Affiliations
Andreas Schmitz| Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, Germany, Doreen Zillmann| Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, Germany, Hans-Peter Blossfeld| Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, Germany
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP9954
- DOI -
- Views 344
- Downloads 19
The Effects of Internet Use and Internet Efficacy on Offline and Online Engagement
While existing research has explored the relationship between Internet use and civic engagement, this study is among the first to examine the effects of general Internet use, social network site use, and Internet effic...
Potentials of Global Networking in SMS Technology: An Example of Nigerian Users
In the last two decades, Short Messaging Service (SMS) has witnessed a remarkable growth and acceptance worldwide. Among other Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) avenues, it is regarded as one of the fastest in incr...
A Study on Public Awareness
Abstract Nuclear energy is a controversial and sensitive subject among the public, because it strongly relates public health and safety. Due to this mass media is handling this subject in a diverse manner thereby it cre...
New Media Use in Brazil: Digital Inclusion or Digital Divide?
The emergence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and, more recently, social network sites and online games brought profound changes to societies and people, particularly to young people. The new media...
The Digital Communications Revolution
Abstract We are living at the crest of a communications revolution. Digital communications and computers are having a tremendous impact on the world today. This article studies different aspects of communication systems...