Automated Go-Betweens: Mate Selection of Tomorrow?

In recent years the tendency of millions of Americans to depart from the traditional monogamous marriage and to choose group marriage, open-ended marriage, ephemeral relations, homosexuality or cohabitation has been the subject of considerable research (Clayton & Voss, 1977; Glick, 1977; Gordon & Libby, 1976; Libby & Whitehurst, 1977; Strong, 1978). There has been, however, relatively little inquiry into changes in the mate selection process made necessary by the new moral standards and relationships. Traditional mate selection has been defined as the stepwise process of escalating attachment, with sexual intimacy expected only in marriage or engagement (Eshleman, 1971; Greenfield, 1965). Traditional procedures are often inefficient undervarying standards of behavior and differences in degree of relationship commitments.