Online sexual addictions are a large part of internet addiction. A cyber sexual addiction is the inability to control compulsively seeking out any online sexual activity despite negative consequences. Online sexual activity can be anything that provides sexuality for the purpose of recreation, entertainment, exploration, support, education, commerce, and/ or seeking out sexual partners [1].
A person who has an online sexual addiction will display characteristics that are common in all internet addictions. Those are a preoccupation with the internet, they display tolerance over time, they try to stop but they cannot, and show symptoms of withdrawal when they try to stop using the internet. People addicted to the internet often lose interest in activities that they used to enjoy, lie about the time they spend on the internet, and become socially withdrawn.
An internet sex addiction is different from internet infidelity. An internet sex addiction displays the characteristics described above. Individuals with an internet sex addiction typically have poor interpersonal relationships and they don’t usually have personal thoughts or feeling toward their online sexual activities. An internet sexual addiction may involve others in a chat room, but it is not about forming relationships. An internet sex addiction is more about spending a lot of time on the internet searching and viewing online sexual activity.
Internet infidelity involves a relationship with another person in secret behind the back of another partner. Internet infidelity is not an internet addiction. It is using the internet to cheat on your partner. It is less about the time spent online and more about the secret relationship.
Internet infidelity involves a relationship with another person in secret behind the back of another partner. Internet infidelity is not an internet addiction. It is using the internet to cheat on your partner. It is less about the time spent online and more about the secret relationship.
[1] Jones, Kathryn, E., and Katherine, M. Hertlein. "Four Key Dimensions For Distinguishing Internet Infidelity From Internet And Sex Addiction: Concepts And Clinical Application." American Journal Of Family Therapy 40.2 (2012): 115-125. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
Internet porn seems to be very popular to single individuals that have bad social skills.Men are usually the main supporters and watchers of internet porn, as most women seem to have a disliking for it. Porn isnt the only online sexual addiction though. There are sites that lets people chat with others in a sexual manner for a fee, however, I feel like creeps with social problems are the only people desperate enough to use most of the sexual services online.
ReplyDeleteIn what I have read, it is true that men usually are more susceptible to an online sex addiction. One comment that I read, that I think might be true is that men tend to be more visually stimulated than woman do. Women typically prefer an emotional connection.
DeleteI think young children and young adults are impacted just as much as those who are addicted. The show, "How to Catch a Predator" is a good example of an addicted individual attempting to live out their fantasy. It is very sad to not only see online pornography and entertainment so popular, especially among older men who are fathers themselves. I personally think stronger laws are needed to help prevent predator type actions from taking place. This is a very real problem and an unfortunate one at that. I do not see a way to prevent someone from looking at porn, or how they interact with others in a sexual manner. However, a focus is needed to limit the access older individuals have to younger children/adults.
ReplyDeleteI agree that more needs to be done to protect children and I have seen the show "How to Catch a Predator". It is very disturbing. Some of that may just be a sex addiction and the internet (other than arranging meetings) may not play a huge role. One positive advancement is that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) will include hypersexual disorder. Hypersexual disorder sounds like it will be a catch all for deviant sexual disorders. In the article I read it is described as out-of-control sexual behavior. I think that this is the first step to providing treatment and to more research into understanding why some have a problem. Prior to this sex addiction and online sex addiction was not listed as a disorder in the DSM-4.
DeleteThe Internet appears to have become an ever increasing part in many areas of people day to day lives. One of the area is sex addiction in a excessive Internet usage. Sex addiction is a real and growing problem in our society. In a world where sex is everywhere, it’s online, it’s on billboards, it’s on television, it’s in schools, books, magazines and other forms of media there is an increase likelihood for an individual to have a strong sexual desire that is difficult to control. When an individual has an increased sex drive that includes an obsession with sex, sex addiction may be at stake.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Some of the television shows have gone overboard. The producers do that though because they know it will draw viewers and increae ratings. Sexual content is so readily available on the Internet, that it makes it easy for people of all ages to access it and become obsessed. For those with little self-control, the Net can be an endless stream of photos that feed the appetite.
ReplyDeleteThe truth of the matter is that media in general, whether it was the past or the present, the producers realize that "sex sells"! It gives people the feeling of being "naughty". Of course, the internet once again allows people to be anonymous and do these things without anyone knowing their true identity.
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