What is Dating | Dating meaning | Difference Between Dating and Relationship

Dating

The Definition of Dating, What affects Dating and phases of dating

Dating

Frame Hover Frame Couple in romantic mood on dating

“I am dating him / her”

Now-a-days, the word dating and its connotations are extremely ambiguous, and at best, is used to loosely define an open relationship, or togetherness, with no relationship. Dating goes on for a period where both persons enjoy each other’s company, but are not sure about the future, or the feelings they have for each other. Seeing someone, hanging out and phrases like this carry the same meaning.

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Difference between dating and dating someone

Dating is more of a generic social term, where one goes out and meets people and spends time with them. Dating someone, is, however, a lot more specific, and connotes romantic time spend together with another person. It means you are seeing someone with a specific purpose, have time to yourselves only, and in regular intervals, with the hope of culminating it into more defined relationship, if both persons feel the same way.

Frame Lovers enjoying their dating
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Difference between dating and a relationship

The main difference between dating and a relationship is commitment.

In dating, there is no commitment. If you are only dating someone special, then commitment may be on the cards, but it is still not there. Only when you become committed to each other, you are into a relationship.

Relationships are based on trust and mutual agreement, most of which is unsaid. Dating is a much free course, where no is expected to restrict any social behaviour of their, due to their dating status.

Further, there is far more communication in relationships, and most of it may not be for the next physical meeting you are going to have. And along with this communication, trust and spending time together, expectations spruce up, which is generally missing on casual dating. Priorities are also adjusted, suiting the other partner, as adjustments begun to be made for love. This is also absent in casual dating.

Difference between dating and a relationship

In a nutshell, the difference in dating and relationships are as follows:

  • Relationship is commitment, while dating has no long term attachment.
  • Dating is mostly for physical pleasure, a relationship is pleasure for the body and soul both.
  • Dating needs no decision making and has no long term impact, while a relationship requires a long term decision making and intent.
  • Dating begin in the evening and end by the morning, while relationships can go on to last a lifetime.
  • Relationship is about stability and commitment, while dating is about fun and pleasure.
  • Dating is all about different choices, relationship is when you have made your final choice.
  • Dating may give you lessons, a relationship helps you build on them.
  • You are independent while dating, relationship only happens when you want to forego that independence, and expect the same from your partner.

So what is a Date?

Couple hugging each other in a romantic mood on dating

The Dating

In short, a date is a no strings attached, sexual relationship. There are terms like friend with benefits, casual dating and hooking up, which are all pretty close to the word date, but not quite. Though there are no strings attached, yet a date has a romantic connotation, and promise to explore the relationship. And this is a typically western culture, prevailing in North America and the Europe, though some eastern countries are also warming up to it.

There is also kind of a social pressure in the prevailing dating countries to have sex with more partners, to have sex without involving emotions, and so called ‘cool’ one night stands. So dating is kind of an open relationship where the two partners explore each other sexually and emotionally to find if they are a good fit. If everything falls okay, then they go ahead to a deeper, dedicated relationship, else they part ways, without any hard feelings. Now-a-days, casual sex is also being mixed up with dating, defeating its purpose.

Behavior in dating is primarily dictated by age

Behavior in dating

At the twenties, people are carefree, on exploring mode, and age is not of a concern. Finding love adds on greatly to this exploring the new life. Mistakes are also far higher in this age, owing to inexperience and immaturity, but people also are able to move on if they commit mistakes, without much of an emotional scar.

In thirties, for singles, finding love becomes difficult, as people get busy in careers, work, and more of in professional circles than of friends. Most people get married and start a family, so the goal shifts to family upbringing. Most have lost and gained love, and life take s new meaning.

In forties however, life takes a different turn. People are wiser, more settled, have some economic security, have more time, but lesser social, informal groups, the regret of the biological clock not in their favor, and the regret that quite a few beautiful things in life are yet to be explored. This greatly affects the dating behavior.

Lady smiling and hugging his boyfriend on dating

Culture & Religion

Culture of Dating - A couple in a romantic mood

Culture

As mentioned before, culture plays a good part, though cultures are slowly getting diluted in the western manner these days. It is normal for a European to date a number of persons, have casual sex, before they settle for committed relationship. In Middle East countries, dating is nonexistent, and marriage is the only way. In countries like India, it is a mixed scenario, with the part of the modern, educated youth vouching for the western culture, while a larger part despising the idea of staying together without marriage. Thus if culturally different people decide to date together, it is important that they share their beliefs and expectations before they go on a long term date, to stay clear of surprises.

Religion

Religious beliefs are deeply ingrained inside a person, and so we see a number of Christians marrying quickly together, to do right the consummate they had before marriage, or to be morally correct to share the bed with the person they love. Similar cultures exist in Hinduism and in countries like India, and the modern youth is always at a dilemma when it comes to serious dating.

Married couple

Phases of Dating

Couple knowing each other on dating

Phase 1

Knowing each other

This is a zero commitment phase, and partners are free to date other people as well. Physical contact is generally shade limited, but people also experience the surge of desire to have greater physical contact.

Friends with benefits

Phase 2

Friends with benefits

During this phase, the significant physical contact changes to each other. People are still free to date other people, but the preferred one becomes the person, who is also showered with maximum physical relationship than others.

Monogamous Dating

Phase 3

Monogamous Dating

Foundation of a solid relationship is established, partners are introduced to respective families, and having sex with someone outside becomes a strict no. The stage is all set to be lost in deep romanticism, to float in dreams, and the desire to spend as much time together as possible. Partners began to appear in all parties of each other, and they are begun to be identified as one.

Pre-Marital

Phase 4

Pre-Marital

Expectations, goals and targets are discussed, intimacy deepens. The idea of raising a family begins, and both partners are fully sure of the coupling.

Married Couple after successful dating

Phase 5

Marriage

Completion of the commitment of being together, couples turning to raise a family, and entrance to a new life together.

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