Myths and Facts about Dating
- A relationship can be fun and scary at the same
time.
Lesson Objectives
Students will recognize the nature of adolescent
romances and this knowledge will help them through the
ups and downs of these relationships.
Students will recognize and understand their physical
attractions and sexual feelings and be prepared to make
responsible decisions that have lasting effects .
Students will explore the dynamics of dating and
understand the purposes and importance of
socialization as it applies to dating.
Rules of the Activity
Each correct answer is worth 5 points, while
each incorrect answer costs you 5 points.
Using your “Dating” card will double
correct/incorrect point values.
You may only use your “Dating” card 5 times.
Any questions?
Good luck and choose wisely!
Statement #1
“Myth” or “Fact”
If you don’t date, you’re weird.
Statement #1 - Answer
“Myth”
Some people would rather spend time with their
friends or alone than spend time with a romantic
partner.
Just like any other activity, some people date and
some people don’t.
Statement #2
“Myth” or “Fact”
Teen pregnancy has increased 10% since the
early 1990s.
Statement #2 - Answer
“Myth”
Teen pregnancy has decreased 28% since the
early 1990s.
Statement #3
“Myth” or “Fact”
You burn twenty-six calories in a one-minute kiss.
Statement #3 - Answer
“Fact”
Kissing is a physical activity and therefore burns
calories 
Statement #4
“Myth” or “Fact”
You and your partner should discuss the
possibility of pregnancy and disease before
having sex.
Statement #4 - Answer
“Fact”
If you are too uncomfortable or embarrassed to
discuss pregnancy or disease, how will you deal
with it when it happens?
And, if you are not mature enough to discuss
sex, then you are not mature enough to have it.
Statement #5
“Myth” or “Fact”
One in one hundred American women has been
the victim of an attempted or completed rape,
and 5 percent of sexual assault victims are men.
Statement #5 - Answer
“Myth”
One in six American women has been the
victim of an attempted or completed rape,
and 10 percent of sexual assault victims
are men.
Statement #6
“Myth” or “Fact”
Since 1993, rape and sexual assaults have
decreased by over 64 percent.
Statement #6 - Answer
“Fact”
The good news: Since 1993 rape and sexual
assault has decreased.
The bad news: Young women ages 16 to 24 still
experience the highest rates of rape and sexual
assault.
Statement #7
“Myth” or “Fact”
Many STDs can be “silent,” causing no
noticeable symptoms in men or women.
Statement #7 - Answer
“Fact”
An estimated one in five Americans have a
genital herpes infection, and up to 90% of them
don’t know about it.
One out of every four sexually active teens has
an STD, and one in two sexually active youth will
contract an STD by age 25.
Statement #8
“Myth” or “Fact”
Between forty thousand and fifty thousand
Americans become infected with HIV every year.
Statement #8 - Answer
“Fact”
Unfortunately, half of them are between the
ages of thirteen and twenty-four.
That means at least two teenagers and young
adults in this country are infected with HIV
every half hour of every day.
Statement #9
“Myth” or “Fact”
Each year one million new cases of STDs occur
among young people aged fifteen to twenty-four.
Statement #9 - Answer
“Myth”
Each year nine million new cases of STDs occur
among young people aged fifteen to twenty-four.
Sexually active youth have the highest STD rates
of any age group in the country.
Statement #10
“Myth” or “Fact”
Almost two-thirds of all rape victims are
committed by someone known to the victim.
Statement #10 - Answer
“Fact”
67 percent of sexual assaults are
committed by non-strangers: 47 percent
of perpetrators are friends or
acquaintances of the victim; 17 percent
are intimates; and 3 percent are relatives.
Statement #11
“Myth” or “Fact”
Fewer than half of high school students have had
sex.
Statement #11 - Answer
“Fact”
Although it may seem like everyone is having sex,
fewer than half of high school students have had
sex.
Statement #12
“Myth” or “Fact”
Condoms are the best method of birth control
and disease prevention.
Statement #12 - Answer
“Fact”
While spermicides seem like a good alternative
to condoms for preventing pregnancy, they can
actually irritate the skin, making it easier to
transmit disease.
Statement #13
“Myth” or “Fact”
First dates should include going to the
movies or out to eat.
Statement #13 - Answer
“Myth”
A date can be whatever you and your date like to
do.
You could have a picnic, go for a hike, go to a
sporting event, or visit an art gallery.
Statement #14
“Myth” or “Fact”
According to Sperling’s Best Places, Austin,
Texas, is the top rated city for dating.
Statement #14 - Answer
“Fact”
Other highly rated cities include Colorado
Springs, San Diego, Raleigh/Durham, and
Seattle.
The worst city for dating is Kansas City.
Bensalem was not mentioned.
Statement #15
“Myth” or “Fact”
Your kissing partner is twice as likely to turn his
or her head to the right rather than to the left for
smooching.
Statement #15 - Answer
“Fact”
Onur Gunturkun, a psychology professor at the
Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany, came to
this conclusion after spying on 224 kissing
couples in airports, railway stations, parks, and
benches in the United States, Germany, and
Turkey.
Score?
How did you score?
A total of 100 points is a perfect score.
To earn this score, you must have answered all
the questions correctly and “Dated” correctly on
five of those questions.
Results
90-100 points: You are an EXCELLENT candidate for
dating. You are aware of the pro’s and con’s of
dating and understand the responsibility necessary
for mature relationships.
80-89 points: You are a GOOD candidate for dating
but you might want to think about your actions and
words. Be very careful when you choose whom you
want to date and what you do on the date!
Results
70-79 points: Okay, I know you think you might
be ready to date, but you still have much to think
about before you do. Do you really know the
safe limits and responsibility of dating.
Remember, you don’t want to hurt anyone and of
course you don’t want to be hurt either.
Results
69 and below: STOP THE MADDNESS! You
clearly are not ready to begin dating yet! While
dating should be fun, interesting, and a great
way to get to know someone, you do not possess
the personal development skills to date
responsibly. This, of course, is only a temporary
state. All you need to do is pay attention to Mrs.
Bowler, think responsibly, and act maturely.
Then you too can pass the Dating Game test!
Tips to Improve
Your Dating Experiences
Communication
In a healthy relationship, couples talk openly with each other.
Individuality
It is important to be comfortable with who you are.
Honesty and Trust
Couples need to be truthful and up front with each other.
Respect
Respect means that you value the opinions, beliefs, and ideas of others.