Discuss dating and romantic relationships among adolescents.

What will be an ideal response?

Answers will vary. Romantic relationships usually begin during early and middle adolescence, and most adolescents start dating or going out by the time they graduate from high school (Florsheim, 2003). For heterosexuals, the development of dating typically takes the following sequence: putting oneself in situations where peers of the other gender probably will be present (e.g., hanging out at the mall), group activities including peers of the other gender (e.g., school dances or parties), group dating (e.g., joining a mixed-gender group at the movies), and then traditional two-person dating (Connolly et al., 2004; Kreager et al., 2015).Dating serves a number of functions. First and foremost, people date to have fun. Dating, especially in early adolescence, also serves to enhance prestige with peers. Dating gives adolescents additional experiences in learning to relate to people. Finally, dating prepares adolescents for adult courtship (Florsheim, 2003). Dating relationships tend to be casual and short-lived in early adolescence. In late adolescence, relationships tend to become more stable and committed (Connolly et al., 2000). Eighteen-year-olds are more likely than 15-year-olds to mention love, trust, and commitment when describing romantic relationships (Furman & Winkles, 2010; Hall, 2011).