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4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door

Gen Z Is Dating People They’re Not Attracted to On Purpose. Psychologists Have Thoughts.

It’s at least better than staying home and doomscrolling alone.

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Gen Z has rebranded going on dates with people they’re not attracted to as a wellness practice, and to be honest, the logic holds up better than it has any right to.

The concept is pretty much what it sounds like. Some singles are deliberately saying yes to meetups with people they wouldn’t normally pursue, skipping the soulmate audition and just getting their reps in.

Christina Psaras, 26, of Chicago, told the New York Post that app dating’s endless scroll of profiles makes it easy to put sky-high expectations on every first date, which is a recipe for constant disappointment. Going out with someone you’re only mildly interested in, she argues, is a corrective. “Going on a ‘practice date’ with someone who isn’t really your type helps you let go of unrealistic expectations for a date,” she said. “It lowers the bar, and you’re less likely to project fantasies onto the........

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