LE3 .A278 2003

2003

Holmberg, Diane

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Clinical Psychology

Psychology

This cross-sectional study examines how dating relationship scripts vary by age, relationship context and gender. Scripts are a type of cognitive schema that specify both the actions or events that are expected to occur in a particular scenario (i.e., going to a restaurant, dating) as well as the order in which these occur. Two pilot studies were conducted that required participants to describe a typical progression of events within a dating relationship. Thirty-eight events were identified and subsequently used in a card-sorting task for the main study. Ninety-four individuals (26 younger women, 28 older women, 20 younger men, 20 older men) used the cards to create both a typical casual and serious dating relationship script. Findings include: (1) broad similarity of scripts regardless of age and gender; (2) distinctions are drawn between the relationship contexts; (3) commitment tends to be absent in casual and present in serious dating scripts; and (4) descriptive data suggests some age and gender differences exist.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2813