First-Date Scripts: Gender Roles, Context, and Relationship

This study sought to discover whether variations in relevant features of a first date would produce differences in young adults’ first-date scripts. In responding to scenarios that manipulated gender of the date initiator, alcohol availability, and relationship type, 209 college students in the Midwestern United States generated lists including an average of 21 actions they expected to occur on the date. Findings showed a trend toward traditional gender roles for male and female date partners, though some complexity related to sexual behavior and the gender of the date initiator was found. In addition, the context of the date influenced the date script to a great extent, whereas the type of relationship between the date partners had little effect.