Should we meet in person or on Facetime?

An examination of expectancy violations and predicted outcome value forecasts during online dating modality switches

Abstract

The present study drew from expectancy violations theory, predicted outcome value (POV) theory, and the modality switching perspective to examine online daters who subsequently met for FtF-like communication. Hierarchical regression analyses tested whether online daters’ post-modality switch (MS) expectedness ratings, evaluations, and POV forecasts were related to their: (a) pre-MS length of online association; (b) number of pre-MS partner photos seen; (c) use of pre-MS phone calls; and (d) decision to hold the first FtF-like meeting in person or through video chat. Behavioral and physical appearance expectedness ratings were positively related to the number of pre-MS partner photos seen, and curvilinearly (inverted-u shape) related to daters’ pre-MS length of association. Physical appearance evaluations were positively associated with the number of pre-MS photos seen, while behavioral and physical appearance evaluations displayed positive associations with pre-MS phone calls. Finally, post-MS POV forecasts were positively associated with the number of pre-MS partner photos seen, holding the MS through video chat, post-MS assessments of a partner’s behavioral expectedness, and post-MS evaluations of a partner’s behavioral and physical appearance. An interaction also emerged for behavioral expectedness and evaluation on POV, which implied that negative expectancy violations were more useful than positive violations in predicting a relationship’s potential viability.