» Dating Communication Methods – What Does It Mean? What is the Impact?
There’s an interesting article in the Washington Post about compatibility in terms of communication methods used by those who are dating. For example, in person, voice, text messages, instant messaging, email, social networks, etc. What does the method you prefer say about you? Here’s one theory:
As expected, extroverts went for “richer” forms of communication like phone or instant messaging, which provide the immediate back and forth that psychologists dub “synchronicity.” So did amiable people, and those who were adventurous. Introverts and the easily stressed preferred e-mail — the lowest on the richness scale — because it lets them control what they say and when they say it. So did the cautious. E-mail “slows communication down by a factor of five,” Dunaetz says. “What you can learn in one day face to face will take five days via e-mail.”
So, while email may be preferred by some, it slows down the process of getting to know someone. What does this say about online dating, where most first communication is done via email messages? Does this lend itself to dating site features like voice communication services that hide your real phone number, web cam communication, virtual-avatar dating, etc?