Speed Dating is Survival of the Hottest
Speed dating is huge now, but be careful you know what you're getting into. The latest psychological research suggests your 'great personality' might not get ticks in boxes. So what have psychologists found out so far?
Robert Kurzban and Jason Weeden from the University of Pennsylvania investigated more than 10,000 speed daters in the US. What their research showed was that many of the things that had previously been found to be important in choosing a mate, like education, income or smoking and drinking habits were found to be irrelevant in people's choices.
What is relevant then? You guessed it:
- 34% of women's desirability was predicted by their physical attractiveness
- 18.4% of men's desirability was predicted by their physical attractiveness
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The research is showing speed dating is focussing people's attention on physical attractiveness to an even greater extent than normal. Three minutes, the standard amount of time each speed date lasts, might well be two minutes and fifty-nine seconds more than you need.
This means that the practical advice when you go to a speed dating event is:
- Be honest about your own physical attractiveness and,
- Aim for members of the opposite sex at a similar level
In a longer encounter in the 'real world' you may have a chance with those out of your league, but in speed dating it's survival of the hottest.
HurryDate: Mate preferences in action
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So, I've never done speed dating (if "done" is really the correct word!)
What I'm interested in knowing is if the goal is to meet someone who you can get to know and enjoy spending time with, or mainly for the sole purpose of a sexual relationship.
Any comments would be helpful. I'm thinking about pursuing it, but I don't even know how to go about finding where it is held.
Hi Andrea,
you can find plenty of information about it on the internet. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, you´ll have one close.
In any case, remember what the article says. From my own experience on accounts of my ex girlfriends, the most gifted men physically were not the best on their personality or in their loveaking. Perhaps because it´s always been so easy for them. Besides, they are in high demand...
Hi Andrea,
Speed dating isn't all about one night stands! From my experience of working for Original Dating http://www.originaldating.com - a speed dating London events organiser we have a huge amount of feedback that suggests that many of our speed daters meet people and have long term relationships as a result. Indeed 70%+ of our clients get a match at the events. We even have had several weddings!
However we are a London only company and perhaps this means that the majority of our clients are young professionals which may mean that they are similar and therefore more compatible. I can't speak for all speed dating companies however I know our events do have a huge success rate.
How much do speed dating event organizers make?
Speed dating is the best thing ever! Have been a few times and if nothing else was just good for a laugh. However, I met the man of my dreams and we are still happy, going strong and plan to get married. And was it just physical attractiveness that got us together - well on his part yes, he said it was my cheeky smile but for me, it was the fact that he made for laugh for the whole 3 minutes!!
Sounds like you had the perfect speed date!
I own a speed dating service in Madison, WI (www.MadcitySpeedDating.com) and, like Hayley, I've also found that most people come away from an event with a positive experience. I think one difference may be the time of each date. We typically alot a full seven minutes, rather than the three referenced in the article.
Jared, forgive me, but you'd hardly say otherwise would you?
A couple of people have recommended speed dating to me, but they are both in relationships now (not through speed dating). None of my single friends are up for going. Would it be weird if I went on my own? At 38 it feels strange.