i disagree a little bit. There are different kinds of dating, usually the first date is very casual and not serious. I believe we have this culture because we may ask someone we barely know on a date, so the date is a way to get to know them better while expressing that we are interested in them. These dates are very relaxed and usually involve little physical contact (though this may be changing). Then we have serious dating, dating someone seriously means that they have not become your boyfriend o girlfriend yet, but you like them and intend to make them your boy or girlfriend. Of course this culture varies significantly across the west and even varies some in the U.S. I personally come from more traditional family with roots in cuba. P.S. I think most people take relationships seriously. Remember, movies and television are good ways to learn about other culture, but they are often a caricature of that culture. I live in china and often watch chinese tv and if i were to judge chinese culture only by what i see on tv, well... i would find chinese people very interesting. :-)

The main difference is that young people in some countries generally believe it's necessary to know people first before starting a more serious relationship. The way of relating is more open and there're many more contacts for pleasure and fun, without no other previous intention for the moment.