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EV0970

The paradox of choice: dating apps and attachment difficulties

THE PARADOX OF CHOICE: DATING APPS AND COMMITMENT DIFFICULTIES.

Although the abundance of options on dating apps can impair decision-making and reinforce short-term partner seeking, it does not necessarily worsen long-term relationship outcomes.

The aim of the study is to examine how the abundance of potential partners on dating apps affects decision-making, partner evaluation, relationship intentions, and subsequent relationship outcomes, as well as the role of individual differences such as the tendency to seek the best possible option (maximizing) and attachment orientation. The rationale highlights concerns that larger choice sets may increase the likelihood of meeting a compatible partner but may also increase cognitive load, repeated comparisons, and uncertainty about whether a better option is available, and that this “paradox of choice” may lead to excessive searching and reduced satisfaction with the chosen partner and willingness to commit. The method involved a non-systematic review of quantitative research on mobile dating apps, focusing on studies examining choice overload, user characteristics, psychological correlates, and relationship outcomes. Experimental research supports a choice overload effect in online partner selection: participants exposed to larger pools of profiles search for longer, devote less attention to each option, and make choices that align less closely with their previously stated preferences. Across three studies, the likelihood of accepting a potential partner decreased by approximately 27% between the first and last profiles evaluated; this decline was partly explained by reduced satisfaction with the profiles and a diminished sense of success in the selection process, while continued exposure increasingly shifted attention toward reasons for rejection. Dating app users report a stronger short-term mating orientation than non-users, but their long-term relationship intentions are similar; attachment anxiety is associated with more frequent use and motivations such as seeking a relationship and validation, whereas findings on attachment avoidance are less consistent. Evidence on established relationships is mixed: Swiss population data showed similar relationship and life satisfaction among couples who met through apps and those who met offline, with stronger intentions to live together among couples who met through apps; a recent international study, however, reported somewhat lower satisfaction, intimacy, passion, and commitment among couples who met online. Nevertheless, observational designs, self-selection, and the inclusion of online meeting contexts other than dating apps limit causal interpretation. The authors suggest that clinical interventions may benefit from addressing decision-making strategies, awareness of choice overload, and attachment-related factors that influence app use.

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