Communication in the simplest and most basic sense and aspect refers to the art where one person passes and shares information to the recipient for the purposes of relaying information. It is imperative to note that communication does not necessarily refer to the conversation. Since there are several non-verbal cues and non-verbal messages that one could use in order to pass information (Alberts, Nakayama & Martin, 2007). In the dating and relationship aspect, communication is uniquely dependent on the personality and behavior of an individual rather than follow a holistic and universal pattern. The above are the reasons as to why there is the aspect of flirting or sharing of communicative or suggestive sexual undertones in the course and the process of communication. Specifically, they are based on the physical, sincere, playful, and polite and the conventional or traditional form of flirting.
The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the type and kind of response that the women gave to the different form of flirting as exhibited to them by their mates. This particular study was drawn from a sufficient sample or research population of 5020 adults. The above was done so as to infer the type of reception or response that people especially the women give to flirting in the course of the courtship and dating experience. From the face value, physical and sincere flirting was experienced and noted in people or instances where there was an increased level of trust, chemistry and deeper emotional attachment.
Purpose
The outlying purpose of this study was to gauge with utmost precision the purpose of the types of flirting styles and their roles in initiating a courtship process between mates. The aspect of the type of reaction that the mates accord to each and every type of flirting is also discussed and articulates in details and principles. For instance, the paper detailed the reaction or the general overview of the women as far as the concept of dating is concerned. Therefore, this enlightened the society as a whole on the type of approach to employ when dealing with the holistic concept of flirting during the courtship process.
Theory
It is worthy to note from the research and study that the author skews the argument and line of thought that women are cautious to the kind and amount of flirting that they allow during the courtship process.
Method used
Literature Review
Empirical research and studies have shown that the behavioral disposition of a human being during the courtship process is greatly affected and controlled. Essentially, it is affected by the biological sex of the people involved in the courtship process, the environmental factors and the physical attractiveness of the people involved in the relationship. The cultural orientation and exposure of an individual and the general communicative and suggestive motivations in the line of courtship also influence the pattern and style of flirting that one would use. In principle, the way in which one communicates is critical and key. The way in which such a person would not only communicate with other person or mate but also the way in which that person would deliver that kind of information (Whitty, 2003, P. 341). Thus, self-monitoring, personality difference and uniqueness and cultural orientations are key in the way in which one flirts or relays information related to flirting in a relationship.
The above argument and logic explains the reason as to why the different forms of flirting styles; as informed by the communication styles namely traditional, playful, polite, physical and sincere (Wyss, 2008, p. 228). Thus, below herein, this section would give a thorough outlook and analysis in the meaning of all the different types of flirting.
Findings
Traditional flirting style
The traditional flirting style refers to the measure of behavioral pattern to which an individual would behave, within the confines and border of the definition of how such gender ought to behave in as understood from the traditional meaning and sense. For instance, in the conventional and traditional sense. A woman was expected to be subtle and tender, thus, during the courtship or subsequent flirting process. She would be expected to behave in a similar manner and line. It would also pass without saying that the men would be expected to initiate contact, make the first moves or seek for a woman during the courtship process and time (Frisby, 2009, P. 59). In the same scale of the argument, the women are expected to make the initial step in the line of sexual seduction or contact. This type of flirt is acceptable to the women since it seems to articulate their feminine role as the hunted and thus lessen and greatly reduce any prospects of one being rejected.
The physical flirting style
Is based on the pickup line, the real physical or sexual contact, the aim of the flirting process and displaying of the sexual interest through the verbal and non-verbal communications. It is also related to the people who seem to show their interests in a romantic manner and approach. People who score high in this type of flirt are likely to be confident in the way in which they express their courtship intentions and desires (Kaare, Brandtzæg, Heim & Endestad, 2007. P. 609). Thus, it is easy safe to assert that the men are more dominant in this line of thought while the women are likely to relax and be pursued rather than show aggression.
Sincere flirting style
The primary goal of this type of flirt is to establish a romantic relationship with a mate or partner and it is regarded as the most honest type of flirt amongst all the others. It stems from the fact that there is a clear objective of forming an emotional or romantic bond with the other partner, by pure interest and zero sexual undertones. It is highly likely that mates would find no difficulty in opening up to this type of flirting. Thus people who employ it are likely to form bonds and forge a romantic relationship with the other person (Egland, Spitzberg & Zormeier, 1996, P. 110). The only drawback and disadvantage noted in this style id the fact that the person would find a lot of difficulty while trying to intensify or upgrade the partnership or relationship to the next level.
The Playful flirting style
This is the entertainment or fun type of flirt where it does not necessarily aim at forming a romantic relationship. Thus, there is no value or any form of seriousness that would be involved. It is usually a superficial type of flirt.
The polite flirting style
In this aspect the regulations and rules involved in this line of flirt thus, one is guided on what to say and how to behave or not. In this type, there are no sexual undertones in this line that is needed. The basic rule of the thumb is that any sexual undertones or behavior of whichever sort would be discarded and is greatly discouraged.
Implications
This particular study is useful to the policy makers and the whole society as a whole in delineating limits and parameters as far as sexuality and sexual behaviors are concerned. A practical instance is the way and manner in which the society would treat sexual offence and harassment. Because it is apparent that the different type of flirt bears different reactions and response from the mates or the people involved in the relationship.
In the future, however, the research work in this area ought to be centered on the least acceptable type of flirt and how the men react to the flirting types directed to them by women. It would also be important if such a study focused on how the men are likely to take flirt directed towards them.
References
Alberts, J. K., Nakayama, T. K., & Martin, J. N. (2007). Human communication in society. Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Egland, K. L., Spitzberg, B. H., & Zormeier, M. M. (1996). Flirtation and conversational competence in cross‐sex platonic and romantic relationships. Communication Reports, 9(2), 105-117.
Frisby, B. N. (2009). “Without Flirting, It Wouldn't be a Marriage”: Flirtatious Communication Between Relational Partners. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 10(1), 55- 60.
Kaare, B. H., Brandtzæg, P. B., Heim, J., & Endestad, T. (2007). In the borderland between family orientation and peer culture: the use of communication technologies among Norwegian tweens. New Media & Society, 9(4), 603-624.
Whitty, M. T. (2003). Cyber-Flirting Playing at Love on the Internet. Theory & Psychology, 13(3), 339-357.
Wyss, E. L. (2008). From the bridal letter to online flirting Changes in text type from the nineteenth century to the Internet era. Journal of Historical Pragmatics, 9(2), 225-254.
