Traditional dating scripts lead to the fact that our society saw dating and relationships in a stereotypical way until now. It is slowly changing but we still see gender diff
erences in what women and men want based on those scripts. Even now it is required that women should act like they are hard to get, while men are the hunters who lead the game.
Let’s take a look at a date between 2 individuals. What do you expect a woman to do? What about the guy? Researchers found out that based on those traditional scripts a woman should act reactive while a man should act proactive. Means, a man should initiate a date and ask a woman out, as well as making the first move and being the dominated part. On the other hand, you have the woman who should dress up nicely, be passive and follow the men’s lead as well as stopping him from going to far on the first date. (The Social Psychology of Attraction& Romantic Relationships…by Madeleine A. Fugére;…)
Those studies were conducted during the 80s and 90s and we have seen a change in todays society. It is still more typical to get asked out by him first and him planning the date, but women are way more confident these days and approach the opposite or same sex faster. A trend shows that western men are more likely to show more emotions and also have less issues in dealing with confident women.
Since we are living in the age of speed dating, group dates and finding someone over social media those scripts become more regulating.
P.s:
Studies showed that men are more romantic than women and also tend to say “I love you” first as well as usually being more traditional in their beliefs. T.H.