New Wave of Internet Technology and the Effects on off-line Relationships

Abstract

There is a new place for exploration in regards to relationships; traditionally we meet people on the street, at bars or by other friends. However, since the vast expansion of Internet users, there have risen new ways of interacting and communicating with others. There are places on line that are specifically made to meet people in different context and environments. Some of these areas include instant message engines, chat rooms, and different other Internet based companies, which provide these services. Along with these new technological advances, as with many other things, there are negative outcomes. There has been research done on how these new ways of communication may cause turmoil to a relationships, through the idea of ~{!0~}Internet Infidelity,~{!1~} Internet infidelity is defined by Shaw, ~{!0~}as taking the sexual energy of any sort thoughts, feelings, and behaviors out side a committed sexual relationship in such a way that it damages the relationship, and then pretending that that this drain in energy will affect neither partner or the relationship as long as it remains undercover. (p. 29)~{!1~} Some individuals discount these acts of interactions on line as ~{!0~}non-real,~{!1~} therefore not constituting them as cheating; but through my research and my qualitative inquiries, I have found that ~{!0~}cyber cheating~{!1~} may and has caused dire consequences in relationships.

Introduction

There has always been a concern about cheating with in relationships. However, the risk seems to have increase with the advances of new technologies, such as the Internet and the services it provides in regards to meeting people. The Internet now offers many opportunities to meet people on-line through services such as on-line personal ads, chat rooms, and instant messenger systems. It is reported that, ~{!0~}national averages indicate that families have wholeheartedly adopted the computer and the Internet access into their homes in relatively short time. The exponential growth of Internet access at home raises questions regarding how Internet sexuality influences couples sexual relationship and sexual satisfaction~{!-~}(Gonya, 2004, p. 386)~{!1~} These new technologies have provided individuals in relationships the opportunity to venture in to a new way of what would be considered ~{!0~}internet infidelity.~{!1~} The reason people get trapped into ...

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...relationships, when in a real physical relationship will damage the relationship that is that is not cybernetic. However, I suggest more research to be in this new area of infidelity, in order to give a stronger base to its substitutability.

References and Works Cited

M. Castro. 2005, May. 21. (Personal Interview, May 21, 2005)

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Gwinnell, E., 1998. Online Seduction and Falling in Love with Strangers on the Internet. New York: Kodansha America, Inc. p. 88-121.

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Patton Q., Michael. Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods 3rd Edition. California: Sage Publication Inc. p.215-225.

Powell D.1995, Engendering Infidelity: Essentialist of Social Constructionist Readings of a Story Completion Task. Feminism and Psychology, p. 345-372.

Shaw, J., 2001, Treatment Rational for Internet Infidelity. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 22, p. 29-34.

Whitty, M. 2004, Cyber Cheating. Counseling and Psychotherapy Journal, Vol. 15 Issue 8, p.38.