The Effect of Self Concept Clarity on Choosing a Dating Partner
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Authors
Alyssa Dickieson
Issue Date
2026
Type
Language
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Abstract
This study aimed to discover how self-concept clarity interacts with the different factors of choosing a dating partner, including factors such as social media usage and self-esteem. Many studies have observed how people's lives are affected by self-concept clarity (SCC), which is how clearly and confidently defined a person's self-beliefs are. Previous studies have established that SCC influences decision-making. People with higher levels of SCC know themselves more clearly; therefore, this group would also find it easier to make decisions based on their self knowledge. A few studies have shown a connection between SCC and choosing a romantic partner. This study examines whether levels of SCC influence the relative importance of personality traits versus attractiveness in decision-making when selecting a dating partner. Previous research has found a relationship with self-esteem, such that high self-esteem is associated with high SCC. Furthermore, with the prevalence of social media in the college-age group, the participants will also be assessed for problematic social media use to understand the role it plays in decision-making. Our expected findings in this study are that those with high self concept clarity will be more likely to use personality to a greater degree when choosing a dating partner. We also predict that those with higher self-esteem will also care more about personality than attractiveness, and those with problematic social media usage will care more about attractiveness. Understanding how SCC can influence how people choose their partners can give insight into how to form healthy relationships and what factors shape this interpersonal decision making.