Dating is any social activity performed as a pair or even a group with the aim of each assessing the other's suitability as their partner in a intimate relationship or as a spouse. The word refers to the act of agreeing on a time and "date" when a pair can meet and engage in some social activity. Dating can mean: Courtship, or, alternatively, serial monogamy Ascertaining the date of an event, using the techniques of: absolute dating, for example using radiocarbon dating, or relative dating, for example using stratigraphy or tree rings This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... An intimate relationship is a particularly close interpersonal relationship. ... The term spouse refers to either partner in marriage, generally called a husband or wife, depending on gender. ...

In many cultural traditions, dates are arranged by a third party, who may be a family member, an acquaintance, or a dedicated matchmaker. Recently matchmaking services have become popular. Although dating rules in Western popular culture have become more relaxed during the 20th century, there is considerable variation between individuals' values. For example, when the activity costs money, it has traditionally been the man's role to pay; in recent times the practice of "going Dutch" (splitting the expenses) has emerged. Traditional dating activities include sharing entertainment or a meal. In general, a person may date many different partners during the same time period in order to have the best chance of finding their most suitable available mate. A Net dating service is an example of a dating system. ... Popular culture (or pop culture) is the widespread cultural elements in any given society that are perpetuated through that societys vernacular language or lingua franca. ... Value redirects here. ... Going Dutch is a slang term that means that each person eating at a restaurant or paying admission for entertainment pays for himself or herself, rather than one person paying for everyone. ...

Types of dates

• Regular date.
• Double date: two couples meet for an activity.
• Group date: an activity shared by two or more couples.
• Blind date: a d*Long Distance / Holidating: Due to a long distance relationship, dating only when one, or both parties are on holiday or vacation and are together during that time period.

A blind date is a date where the people involved have not met each other previously. ...

Systems for organizing dates

• Online dating: Instead of using a traditional matchmaker, online dating uses specifically targeted websites to meet new people.
• Speed dating: Where a group of people get together for several hours in a public place to get to know one another better. At one of these speed dating events, each person usually sits with another single member for a set period of time to get to know them better, and then at the predetermined time is asked to move and sit with someone else to repeat the process.
• Mobile dating/cell phone dating: Where text messages to and from a mobile/cell phone carrier are used to show interest in others on the system. Can be web-based or online dating as well depending on the company.
• Virtual dating: A combination of video game playing and dating, where users create avatars and spend time in virtual worlds in an attempt to meet other avatars with the purpose of meeting for potential dates.
• Singles Events: Where a group of singles are brought together to take part in various events for the purposes of meeting new people. Events can include such things as parties, workshops and games.

A Net dating service is an example of a dating system. ... Speed dating is a formalized matchmaking process or dating system whose purpose is to encourage people to meet a large number of new people. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... A Net dating service, also known as online dating or internet dating, is an example of a dating system and allows individuals, couples and groups to meet online and possibly develop a romantic or sexual relationship. ... See Avatar (disambiguation) for other meanings. ...

Dating problems and misunderstandings

When individuals use the framework of dating for purposes other than assessing their date's suitability for them, misunderstandings can arise. One or both partners may initiate or accept dating invitations due to peer pressure, attention, a desire to escape from a social environment which they find stifling, a desire for acceptance, or a desire to humiliate; these motives can be strong enough to cause the person to deceive themselves and others when challenged, claiming and believing that they are mainly acting in good faith. This can lead to being "stood up".

Religious

"Biblical" courtship

Main article: Biblical courtship

Biblical courtship is a system practiced by a minority of Christian families, mainly in the USA, where dates are chaperoned and the dating relationship is exclusive and may be vetoed by either of the courting parties or by any of their parents. Once the male declares his feelings to the father and an approval is reached, the male and the female can begin the process of getting to know each other on their chaperoned dates. The purpose of the system is to encourage lasting marriages. Despite its name, there are varying opinions as to the degree that this practice either reflects biblical practices or complies with biblical doctrines, or even the extent to which it constitutes "courtship". Biblical courtship, also known as Christian courtship, is a term used to denote a particular response to secular dating culture within various American Christian communities, c. ...

Jewish

Main articles: Jewish view of marriage and shidduch

Hasidic men and women, as customary in Haredi Judaism, usually meet through matchmakers in a process called a shidduch, but marriages involve the mutual consent of the couple and of the parents. Expectations exist that a bride and groom should be about the same age. Marriage age ranges from 17-25, with 18-21 considered the norm. No custom encourages an older man marrying a young woman. Judaism considers marriage to be the ideal state of existence; a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, are considered incomplete. ... The Shidduch (Hebrew: שידוך, pl. ... The Shidduch (Hebrew: שידוך, pl. ...

References

• Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. (2000). Whitney, DeBruyne, Sizer-Webb, Health: Making Life Choices (pp. 499-500)
• Capstone Press. (2000). Havelin, Kate., Dating: What Is a Healthy Relationship?

External Links