Dating

When daters are asked what's good about dating, they identify the following topics (Laner 1995):

1. Companionship and communication;
2. Friendship;
3. Intimacy;
4. Freedom of choice;
5. Good times and having fun;
6. Love and romance;
7. Feelings of security;
8. A sense of specialness;
9. Learning about another person;
10. Sharing (mutuality);
11. An opportunity for personal growth; and
12. An opportunity for sexual contact.

When asked about problems associated with dating, all of the same topics are identified. Thus, they each have their good and bad aspects. The list shown here appears in sequence—that is, companionship and communication were most often mentioned and sexual contact was least often mentioned. Yet, in terms of problems associated with dating, "a large number of questions were raised about several sexual dilemmas. They focused on problems relating to infidelity, and to differences between men and women regarding sexual attitudes, feelings, and behaviors" (Laner 1995, p. 182).