Digitalization of Social Contacts – Risks for Women Seeking a Spouse through Dating Sites and Apps

Abstract

The article presents the results of an empirical study related to the problem of the risks of digitalization of social contacts when searching for marriage partners through dating sites. The research hypothesis suggests that these risks are fraud; sexual harassment; stalking; abuse of received information of an intimate nature; distortion of perception of the communicative situation, reality, communication partner; the occurrence of negative psychological consequences. It is assumed that the risks will increase due to the characteristics of the personality of women. The respondents were 197 women who used dating sites to find a marriage partner. A specially developed author's questionnaire was used, as well as standardized methods. It was revealed that such types of risks as fraud, sexual harassment occur regardless of the personal characteristics of the respondents. Risk of facing fraud increases among successful women. Risk of the distortion of the perception of the communicative situation, reality, communication partner and risk of the occurrence of negative psychological consequences directly depend on the personal characteristics of women.

Keywords

• risks of digitalization of social contacts
• psychological characteristics of women
• personal characteristics
• dating sites