Hookup culture has become much more than just a term to describe casual sex in recent years. It has become what its name implies: a culture.
In years past it was something that was most prevalent on college campuses, however, with dating apps and a changed perspective on dating and relationships, particularly in America, it has become common among established adults in their late 20's and 30's.
But what exactly is this term we hear floating around social media? What is its meaning? Where did it start?
And perhaps the biggest question: Is it destroying our relationships?
What is Hookup Culture?
Hookup culture refers to the general preference of casual sex over long-term relationships.
While there is certainly a time and a place for this, mostly when we are young adults going through college or still trying to find our way in the world, there comes a time when we are best suited looking for a partner to marry and start a family with.
After all, hooking up with people becomes much more difficult when both men and women are older. Most of the people in your age group do indeed end up getting married, and to float around college bars with people who are 10 years younger than you starts to become very sad, very quickly.
So hookup culture is generally a natural progression into adulthood, and a phase we experience before establishing ourselves in our careers and building wealth, family, and values.
The problem is that now it has become a phase we are locked into for far too long. It's not supposed to be something we carry into our adult lives, and it ultimately leads us to feel empty and depressed.
Why is this the case? Well, there is one culprit that we can identify as a driving factor for this way of thinking.
How Dating Apps Encourage Hookup Culture
Traditional dating apps began as a seemingly convenient way to meet people and form relationships, with the idea of finding our life partner.
However, as they became more integrated into our society, they have turned out to be a catalyst for the same addictive behavior akin to social media, with users swiping mindlessly for their next match, and never actually engaging in a process beneficial to the discovery of one's life partner.
Even more, dating apps actually encourage hookups through the very nature of their mechanics.
When we swipe on these apps, we have the illusion of limitless matches, so our interest in conversation and getting to know each other is low. Naturally, we start to just use them as a way to try and quickly meet someone and hookup, with (generally) very disappointing results.
These apps are designed for us to not only fail in finding a long-term partner, but to actually get us addicted to them through random intermittent rewards by way of spontaneous matching and an overall manipulation of our dopamine.
The significant contribution to hookup culture from traditional dating apps is shown in the way we as a society have come to perceive them.
It has become well known that these apps are simply ways to kill time on the toilet or chase an unsuccessful hookup.
The Negative Effects of Casual Sex
Frequent casual sex has proven to not be beneficial to one's mind.
For one, when we engage with someone physically, our brain is doing things that we don't even realize at the time.
The brain is signaling for things like peer bonding and comfort with a partner, which don't get fulfilled during these scenarios. We have to wonder how this affects the brain in the long term, and how it changes the way we behave in future relationships.
In one study done on undergraduates at a University, 78% of women and 71% of men who engaged in casual sex said that they felt regret afterwards.
In another study, over 75% of people who engaged in casual sex reported feelings of low self-esteem afterwards.
So with feelings of low-self esteem and regret being somewhat common amongst men and women who have casual sex, we have to confront the possibilities of this behavior affecting our lives in other areas.
The Hidden Cost of Hookup Culture for Women
Hookup culture leads women to waste their valuable young years on fleeting encounters instead of focusing on finding a partner and learning how to build a strong, lasting relationship.
Additionally, promiscuity becomes a red flag for potential partners. As Jordan Peterson often points out, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.
A history of casual encounters raises concerns about a woman's commitment and stability, making it harder to attract long-term partners.
How FrostyWave Contributes to Positive Dating Culture
FrostyWave is designed to empower exceptional women to make the right choices in love and life.
Our app is for women who want to spend their prime years finding a partner and building a meaningful, successful relationship.
By leveraging cutting-edge technology and scientific insights into relationships, we guide women on their journey to finding the love of their life.
Through our in-app workshops and coaching, we aim to create a culture where both women and men embrace their unique roles in building strong, successful relationships, and lay the foundation for happy, stable families.
Join FrostyWave today and start your journey toward finding the love of your life!
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