Recently, researchers have documented the phenomenon of "hooking up" on college campuses in the United States and how it is replacing traditional dating as the primary form of romantic interaction between the two sexes.¹ A "hook up" is characterized by a sexual encounter, usually occurring between people who just met or are casual acquaintances, for which there is no expectation of future commitment. This is in contrast to dating, a more formal process, in which one person asks another person to accompany them on "a date" and generally includes the possibility of developing a relationship.¹

Bradshaw and colleagues undertook a study on the perceived benefits and risks of dating and hooking up reported by each gender as well as a preference for one over the other.

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