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Full disclosure: experimental analysis of female online dating on parole

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Abstract

Objectives

Research has considered the effect of convictions on employment and housing outcomes, but there are limited studies exploring how criminal justice contact affects the initiation of relationships. This study uses an experimental design to explore how people react to criminal stigma in the context of online dating.

Methods

Female online dating profiles were created using pre-rated, open access photographs of women that varied in race (Black, White, Latino). These three profiles comprised the control condition. The experimental condition consisted of the same exact three profiles with one exception: a brief mention of their being on parole in written profile bios. The three profiles attempted to match with 6000 online daters each in the control and experimental conditions across 18 online dating platforms (N = 36,000).

Results

Findings indicate that the Black and Latina profiles matched significantly less frequently when disclosing parole. In the parole disclosure condition, White female profiles received significantly more matches than Black and Latino profiles, and White females disclosing parole matched at a higher rate than White females not disclosing parole.

Conclusions

The stigma of a criminal record is damaging for Blacks and Latinas who disclose parole in online dating bios, but for White females, disclosure of parole does not hinder and may even help their online dating match success. The stigma of being minority appears to compound criminal stigma in online dating. This has crucial implications for the relationships of formerly incarcerated because prosocial romantic relationships reduce recidivism.

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Notes

  1. To ensure that test profiles did not overlap on study apps/sites and to reduce the risk of users uncovering the study profiles through exposure to identical profile photos between the experimental and control conditions and similarity in bios across all study profiles, we only allowed one female on parole and a female of a different race/ethnicity not on parole on each app.

  2. Dating apps appeal to people for different reasons. Some are intended for casual dating or hooking up (Tinder) while others are for long-term relationships (OK Cupid). Apps may also be intended for specific groups delineated by age (SeniorMatch), religion (ChristianMingle), or race (BlackPeopleMeet)—none of which we used in this study. Dating apps can appeal to different racial groups either intentionally by name (i.e., Color Dating) or unintentionally (Bumble appeared to have a disproportionate amount of White male users). We used a variety of dating apps to account for this and control for race-based effects across all study profiles. The match rate across profiles on each app demonstrated that several of the apps were either intended for or ultimately became used for people interested in specific racial groups. There were several outliers for test profiles. Out of the 1000 attempts for each profile on each app, the White female profile matched 976 times on Tagged (parole). The Latina matched 846 times and the Black female matched 852 times on Tinder (both parole). The Latina matched 857 times on Tagged (not on parole). The low outliers were the Black female profile, which matched only 14 times on Lovoo (parole), the Latina profile, which matched 81 times on Color Dating (parole), and the White profile, which matched 96 times on Jaumo (parole).

  3. Twenty-two other matches sent messages asking if the study profile was real, but this is not necessarily a direct accusation of being a fake profile because it could be a flirtatious way of attempting to elicit a response.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the research team members—Lifa Choo, Hydeia Deshields, Nicole Diminno, Ijanea Fedrik, Kristineiry Hernandez, Kimberly Jones, Michael Kerrigan, Anthony LaRosa, Richard Luna, Yashira Marquez, Mabel Mendez, Milton Ortiz, Richard Pena, Cheradyn Petit, Katiria Reyes, Amarfis Rodriguez, Tamara Solomon, and Samuel Acheampong for their contributions to this project. This study would not have been possible without their diligent efforts. I dedicate this study in loving memory to Dr. Devah Pager, whose work inspired the study design and whose kindness and helpful feedback to a stranger attested to grace and generosity. You will be missed but your legacy will live on through your work and all the lives you touched.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Criminal Justice, Political Science, and International Studies, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ, USA

    Douglas N. Evans

  2. Research and Evaluation Center, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, BMW Suite 605.10, 524 W. 59th Street, New York, NY, 10019, USA

    Douglas N. Evans

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Correspondence to Douglas N. Evans.

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Appendices

Appendix 1

Table 5 Number of successful matches (out of 1000) by app and condition
Full size table

Appendix 2 Sample of user messages referencing study profile disclosed parole status (exact message content received)

White Female

Good afternoon my name is… Nice to meet you Ms. Cassandra. You mention you got off from parole. do not feel bad got out of a slammer from suspension driver license. Lol! Make a lot mistakes in the past make us human and we not perfect either. All that matter as we grow older we will not makes same mistakes twice. Something about you caught my eye and wondering maybe we can have brunch sometimes?

What did you get probation for? I got probtion as well.

Hey! Been that route! Got clean and sober and havent had to worry about that shit! Even went backt o school and got a degree! Just had to get away from old friends and try to do the right thing!

I actually read your bio. I feel for you. I just maxed out 8 months ago” Read your bio. Love the positivity.

Thanks for the match! I think we like the same things sports, family etc. Congratulations coming off parole. What kind of store do you manage?

Hi Cassandra. I respect your honesty. Not affraid to expose your legal status. Most people will not bother but you have my attention. I also have a past which only made me stronger. Not many people will take time to understand us but I definiely would like to hear from you.

Black Female

parole what for? i understand if you dont wanna talk about it.

You know I have to ask about the parole right?

Thats a hella of a strong introduction. What has coming of a parole like?

Parole? In your profile?

Can I ask what your on parole for?

How many guys lead with “What are you on parole for?” do not want to know the answer, but I am definitely curious if that comes up A LOT.

Latina Female

Just curious and if you do not might but why are you on parole for? I am an ex con too.

Ya too damn cute to be that scary and hard, parolee or not.

Your smile though (emoji) I am still trying to wrap my head around how such a beauty and sweet looking woman could be getting odd parole but hey, I do not judge at all.

You seem like a firecracker. I am afraid to ask about your past. Would that help us move fwd?

Not to go too deep myself but I am going to probation soon so I understand.

How much time did you do and what did you do to get time?

Wow very honest info. Im on parole so I know how it is when life drags ya down for a while.

How are you? Nice to meet you. You look fantastic in your pictures. Was that too soon to say that? I am looking for something serious as well so if you ever want to meet up to chat more or grab dinner and drinks this Friday to get to know each other better, I would not mind the company. What did you do to go jail? By the way, I have to tell you that I am 40 years old, for some reason this app will not let me change my age so you show up in my matches but I am glad it did because I like your profile. If you look at my profile picture, I am fit and extremely young looking and mature enough that I do not play games with your head or use cheesy pick up lines. If I am with you, I am with you. No side chicks or cheating. I am one of those guys you see that do not look their age, I can send you some recent selfies so you can see for yourself, and I am emotionally mature, employed and do not play games with your head.

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Evans, D.N. Full disclosure: experimental analysis of female online dating on parole. J Exp Criminol 15, 179–199 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-019-09357-2

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