Swipe and Reflect: Dating Apps and Mental Health with Dr. Liesel Sharabi Kare With Korac

Dr. Liesel Sharabi is an associate professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication and Director of the Relationships and Technology Lab at Arizona State University. She has published dozens of articles and chapters examining how technology is changing the way we meet, date, and fall in love. She has also appeared in media outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Boston Globe, WIRED, and NPR to discuss the topic of online dating. She writes a blog for Psychology Today called “Dating in the Digital Age.” For more information about Dr. Sharabi, follow her @LieselSharabi or check out her website at www.lieselsharabi.com.

In this episode, Dr. Sharabi and I discuss her research on relationships and technology, specifically focusing on online dating and dating apps. She explores the early days of online dating and the stigma associated with it, as well as the evolution of attitudes towards online dating. Dr. Sharabi emphasizes the importance of realistic expectations and taking the time to get to know different types of people. She also discusses the gender dynamics on dating apps and the experiences of different genders. Additionally, Dr. Sharabi shares her research on success stories in online dating and explores alternative online dating experiences, such as virtual reality. In this conversation, Dr. Liesel Sharabi discusses the risks and vulnerabilities of online dating and the future of dating in the digital age. She also gives insight on balancing online and in-person dating.

For more information on Dr. Sharabi check out her website at https://lieselsharabi.com/ Follow me @joshkorac on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for video clips, podcast previews, and more mental health content! If you are in a mental health crisis, please call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are from Colorado and are interested in scheduling a session, please reach out at sojourncounselingco.com/josh or josh@sojourncounselingco.com.

Takeaways

Online dating has evolved from being stigmatized to becoming the most common way to meet a romantic partner.

Realistic expectations and taking the time to get to know different types of people are important in online dating.

Gender dynamics play a role in online dating experiences, with men often facing challenges in getting responses and women experiencing harassment.

Success in online dating often requires endurance and the ability to overcome negative experiences.

Alternative online dating experiences, such as virtual reality, are being explored but are still in the early stages. Virtual reality dating offers the opportunity to have a trial run of a date before meeting someone in person.

Online dating can feel risky due to meeting strangers, but safety precautions can be taken to mitigate potential dangers.

Online communication can make people more comfortable and vulnerable in revealing themselves.

The future of online dating may involve the integration of video and finding ways to address the problems and frustrations users experience.

Balancing online and in-person dating can provide more opportunities to meet potential partners.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background

02:35 Interest in Relationships and Technology

04:49 Early Days of Online Dating

07:42 Stigma and Authenticity

09:50 The Importance of the Story of How People Meet

12:23 Balancing Expectations in Online Dating

14:55 Motivations for Using Dating Apps

16:54 Realistic Expectations and Meeting Different Types of People

19:25 Preventing Dating App Burnout

23:58 Gender Dynamics on Dating Apps

28:36 Differences in Experiences Based on Gender

32:26 Success Stories in Online Dating

39:09 Exploring Alternative Online Dating Experiences

39:52 Virtual Reality Dating

43:17 Risk in Online Dating

45:49 Vulnerability in Online Dating

48:43 Future of Online Dati