Stronger Algorithmic Beliefs Were Associated with More Benign Interpretations in Unideal Online Dating Scenarios

Communication scholars have approached heterogeneous experiences in romantic interactions online from the perspective of algorithmic beliefs. People with higher algorithmic beliefs trust more that algorithms can help them find compatible matches in online dating. Such algorithmic beliefs have been theorized to have their effect through the mechanism of self-fulfilling prophecy. The current study offers a more granular test of the underlying cognitive and emotional mechanisms using a scenario-based design. Undergraduate students (<i>N</i> = 101) who had online dating experiences were randomly assigned to report reactions to 4 of 24 unideal online dating scenarios, producing 404 observation points. Crossed random effects modeling found that participants with higher algorithmic beliefs had more positive interpretations and fewer negative interpretations in unideal online dating situations. However, algorithmic beliefs were not related to distress. Findings suggest that algorithmic beliefs may enhance online dating experiences through facilitating more adaptive appraisal processes and offer insights for potential interventions against online dating burnout.