Shy Geek, Likes Music, Technology, and Gaming: An Examination of Autistic Males' Online Dating Profiles

Dating involves a range of complex social skills that autistic adults can often find challenging. Many autistic adults have turned to online dating, which in theory may ameliorate these social difficulties. The aim of this study was to explore, for the first time, how autistic males describe themselves in online dating profiles. The online dating profiles of 52 self-identified autistic males were analyzed using a combination of frequency and thematic analyses. A common pattern of self-description was identified, involving a combination of both desirable and undesirable characteristics. Themes included interests, negative descriptions of personality, ideal match, and autism. Findings are discussed in terms of desirability, the norms of online dating, and the benefits and costs of computer-mediated communication for autistic male online daters.

[1]  Thorsten Quandt,et al.  Unpopular, Overweight, and Socially Inept: Reconsidering the Stereotype of Online Gamers , 2014, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[2]  J. Gillis,et al.  “Convenience with the Click of a Mouse”: A Survey of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder on Online Dating , 2015 .

[3]  Nicky Hayes,et al.  Doing psychological research: Gathering and analysing data. , 2000 .

[4]  Gina B. Polychronopoulos,et al.  Relationships, Sexuality, and Intimacy in Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2013 .

[5]  I. Dziobek,et al.  Romantic Relationships and Relationship Satisfaction Among Adults With Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism. , 2017, Journal of clinical psychology.

[6]  Daniel C. Murrie,et al.  Asperger's Syndrome in Forensic Settings , 2002 .

[7]  Susan D. Voyer,et al.  Challenging Stereotypes: Sexual Functioning of Single Adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder , 2013, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[8]  Jeffrey T. Hancock,et al.  Looks and Lies: The Role of Physical Attractiveness in Online Dating Self-Presentation and Deception , 2010, Commun. Res..

[9]  Monica T. Whitty,et al.  Revealing the 'real' me, searching for the 'actual' you: Presentations of self on an internet dating site , 2008, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[10]  R. Vermeiren,et al.  Sexual Behavior in High-Functioning Male Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder , 2007, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[11]  L. Koegel,et al.  Romantic Relationships, Sexuality, and Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2014 .

[12]  P. Prelock,et al.  Peer play interventions to support the social competence of children with autism spectrum disorders. , 2006, Seminars in speech and language.

[13]  G. Fletcher,et al.  Ideals in intimate relationships. , 1999, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[14]  Larry D. Rosen,et al.  The Wiley handbook of psychology, technology and society , 2015 .

[15]  Julian A. Oldmeadow,et al.  Geek or Chic? Emerging Stereotypes of Online Gamers , 2012 .

[16]  Nicole B. Ellison,et al.  Managing Impressions Online: Self-Presentation Processes in the Online Dating Environment , 2006, J. Comput. Mediat. Commun..

[17]  B. Chakrabarti,et al.  Empathy and emotion recognition in people with autism, first-degree relatives, and controls , 2012, Neuropsychologia.

[18]  M. Brosnan,et al.  The effect of diagnostic labels on the affective responses of college students towards peers with ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’ and ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder’ , 2016, Autism : the international journal of research and practice.

[19]  E. Walker,et al.  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 2013 .

[20]  Joseph B. Walther,et al.  Selective self-presentation in computer-mediated communication: Hyperpersonal dimensions of technology, language, and cognition , 2007, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[21]  K. Koenig.  Shana Nichols, Gina Marie Moravcik, Samara Pulver Tetenbaum: Girls Growing up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know About the Pre-teen and Teenage Years , 2010 .

[22]  Erin M. Schumaker,et al.  The Effects of Verbal Versus Photographic Self‐Presentation on Impression Formation in Facebook , 2012 .

[23]  J. Magill-Evans,et al.  The quality of life of young men with Asperger syndrome , 2006, Autism : the international journal of research and practice.

[24]  L. Eaves,et al.  Young Adult Outcome of Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2008, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.