DECEPTION TO GET A DATE

Two studies examined whether some people use more deceptive self-prese ntation to initiate a dating relationship. Participants reviewed infor mation depicting prospective dates and constructed-profiles to be used by the prospects; to select a date. In this context, high self-monito ring man and women engaged in more deceptive self-presentation to the person that they desired to date than low self-monitors. Study 2 repli cated this finding with a variety of personal dimensions and revealed that high self-monitors hold more favorable attitudes toward using dec eption in dating initiation and admit altering their self-presentation in an attempt to initiate a date. No sex differences in the amount of deceptive self-presentation were found. These outcomes suggest that h igh self-monitors behave in a chameleon-like fashion during dating ini tiation strategically and deceptively changing their self-presentation in an attempt to appear more desirable to the person they want to dat e. Motivations for using deception are discussed.