Dating Aspects and Models

 

This week in class we decided to cover the topic of how much the world has changed throughout the years. Specifically the way people dated other people has changed in the years. The culture, social aspects, and experiences people have with dating have changed drastically. We also talked about the different aspects that we see in dating today in the world such as casual dating, serious relationships, and cohabiting. We discussed the old fashioned model of dating and tried to see the similarities and differences between the past and now.

 We discussed one of the things that didn’t really change as much was the ultimate goal for dating, which was to be married. With the way marriage worked throughout the years, there have been many changes as well. For example, the different roles that each marriage had has changed through the years. With providing, protecting, and presiding depended on being decided between the husband and the wife on the roles they want to take in the marriage and in the family. But as time goes by, more changes happen within the models of dating and marriage.

We also focused on the topic of why people date. During the discussion, we provided common insights of why we all do it. We date to learn not only about ourselves, but what we like about the person we are dating, to learn what we want in a marriage, and to learn about the people we are with on how they are like in different situations. The way people get married is if they date, which is obvious, they not only date one person, but they date a variety to figure out what kind of individual is the best fit for them and for their lives. We also discussed a staircase model involving dating.

There are four steps in that model. The first step is dating, casual at first, getting to know the person, and determining whether they like the individual or not. After the first step, next comes courtship, this is a word that is not heard of very much anymore these days. Courtship is defined as a period which a couple develop a romantic relationship, especially with a view to marriage. After the second step, comes engagement. Now engagement is the commitment that people make when they decide to get married. Engagement helps prepare the couples for that next step that will shape and define them for the rest of their lives. Once they are ready and make that commitment, the last step is marriage. In the last step after making that commitment, the husband and the wife all have left to do is continue cherishing and loving each for all time and eternity.

Those steps are typically what everybody, who is dating to marry, follow to help them. During those stages, come different situations that may test the relationship between the individuals. There may be times where they may question whether it is worth being in a relationship with a certain person. At times, that is normal, they want to make sure that they made the right decision by committing to be in a relationship with the person they are with. At times they don’t want to get too attached too quickly.

After focusing a lot on the dating aspect and how much it changed during the years, I personally feel that that intention and the goal in mind involving dating is still the same. A lot of people still date to find an eternal companion to marry, love, and cherish. It is something that everybody wants when it comes to love.