Attachment Style, Motives for Use, and Authenticity in Mobile Dating Apps
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Casey, Daniel
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Thesis
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University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
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Abstract
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The purpose of this study was to explore the self-presentation of MDA users.
Specifically, can MDA users' attachment styles and motives for use predict users’ presentation of
an authentic self? The results indicated that only the dismissive attachment style and motive of
self-validation influenced user’s intent to perform an authentic or deceptive self. The dismissive
attachment style was a significant predictor of exhibiting a real/authentic self. Contrastingly, the
motive for self-validation was predictor of a user’s intent to present an intentionally deceptive
self. Neither self-presentation outcome was associated with both users’ motivations and
attachment styles. However, this study makes several relevant contributions to the study of
MDA, attachment styles, motives, and the antecedents to presenting an authentic or inauthentic
self by building on the foundation of previous research.
In line with previous research (Liu et al., 2015), the current study considers the
presentation of an authentic self a performative act (rather than an inherent trait) by defining
authentic self-presentation as occurring when MDA users accurately represent their offline
identity through their MDA profile. The current study does not define what an authentic self
presentation looks like, but rather what may influence an MDA user's likelihood of presenting an
authentic self.