Physical Attraction in the Internet Age

Physical attraction in the internet age
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Abstract
The article in critique throughout the course of this paper is titled "Relationship formation on the internet: What's the big attraction?"and has been authored by Katelyn McKenna, Amie Green, and Marci Gleason. The three authors have come together to analyze a fundamental part of online dating. Through the details that have been presented in the course of the journal, there are important analyses about the role of physical attraction in relationship and the change that has taken place. Through this article, it is easy to look at the changes and developments that are taking place with regards to dating. What are the traditional values of dating? What is the ancient way of dating? What is the role of the internet with regards to online dating? What are the changes that have taken place in dating? What is the trend with regards to dating? What role does physical attraction play when it comes to the internet dating? These are the questions that form the analysis of the critique and the overall assessment of the effect of the internet with regards to dating. (McKenna, Green & Gleason, 2002)
Introduction
The journal looks at the history of dating and other forms of relationships. Today, more than ever, people are getting connected through the internet. The world of internet dating has completely done away with the traditional models of relationships. Through the internet people are building relationships that have very little or nothing to do with physical attraction. Such relationships are becoming more and more popular as the days go by. As these relationships grow in popularity, the intimacy in relationship continues to change. The article goes on to state that unlike in the traditional setting of relationships where there was physical attraction, the internet relationships continue to do away with the physical attraction in relationships. This is echoed throughout the analyses that are presented in the article. The purpose of the research in the article is to look at the internet sites and the effects they have on the development of intimate relationships as well as assess the group norms with regards to the changes that have taken place in intimate relationships. (McKenna, Green & Gleason, 2002)
Methodology
The research in the journal was designed in a way that allowed for the easy assessment of expanded information. Through the way the research in the journal was designed, it was possible to deal with fine details contained in the circle of relationships and the role of physical attraction in relationships. The research in the journal takes place over a period of three weeks and involves 2000 participants. 80 percent of these participants participated in the research through online platforms whereas 20 percent participated in the research through one on one interaction with the research designers. In the journal, the online participants were emailed the different questionnaires. After they had provided the relevant information with regards to the research, the information was complied together for recommendations. In the research, the main question was - what is the big attraction? Through this question, the research sought to identify the nature and effect of the disclosure in different relationships. The research in the journal dealt with different types of relationships. (Fein & Schneider, 2002)
One of he facts presented in the journal is the fact that most of the people who opt for online relationships are busy people. The journal goes on to show that, unlike in the traditional forms of relationships where a lot of time was needed to build a relationship, the online provides the dating partners with a convenient way of interacting with each other. Most of the participants in the research likened their dating experiences to travelling in a train and sharing information with the person next to them. Unlike the traditional relationships where people would meet daily and build their relationships over a period of time, the research discovered that it takes a good deal of trust and a lot of time to build an intimate relationship online. More and more people are opting for online dating due to its convenience. For instance, the people who are shy or have speech problems have been known to be great beneficiaries of online dating. (Atwood & Gallo, 2011)
The journal also deals with the important elements with regards to the big question. It looks at the tastes and preferences and analyzes these with regards to relationships. It goes on to state that both online and traditional relationships depend on tastes and preferences. The manner in which tastes and preferences affect a relationship differs in the two settings. In traditional relationship settings, people meet and express their preferences within the course of the relationships. Online dating has been designed in a way that ensures people with similar interests are grouped together. This is one of the important and convenient elements of online dating. People in an online relationship can find partners who posses what they are looki...