The term addiction often brings thoughts of drugs or alcohol, however, other serious types of addictions exist, such as sex addiction (or compulsive sexual behavior). Sex addiction refers to individuals who continually pursue new sexual partners, have multiple and often sexual encounters, partake in compulsive masturbation, and use pornography habitually. Just like alcoholics who cannot stop themselves from having a drink, regardless of the desire to stop and negative outcomes, sex addicts find it extremely difficult to discontinue their risky sexual behaviors.
Sex addicts tend to express cognitive and emotional symptoms like obsessive thoughts regarding sex, feeling guilty of constant sexual behaviors, wanting to escape negative thoughts, loneliness, boredom, self-esteem issues, shame, secrecy about sexual endeavors, rationalizations for those behaviors, preferring anonymous sex, and lack of intimacy.
The Internet brings even more issues in terms of sex addiction to the table. Sex addiction now exists beyond in-person interactions; the Internet brings cybersex to the forefront, adding another variable and possibility for sex addiction. Because online pornography can lead to inaccurate and unattainable ideas about sex, real relationships may suffer from a partner’s use and engagement in cybersex.
Aviv Weinstein and his team of researchers published a study this April in Frontiers in Psychiatry that explored if frequency of engaging in cybersex and pornography craving could predict intimacy difficulties among men and women. The research team also investigated if sex, pornography craving, and intimacy difficulties could predict cybersex frequency. They also studied if sex differences exist with regards to frequency of cybersex and pornography craving.
Participants were males and females in their mid-twenties. They were surveyed on demographics, cybersex addiction, pornography craving, and intimacy difficulties. Findings show that men scored higher for craving pornography and engaging in cybersex when compared to women. This could be due to women desiring more romantic fantasies, intimacy, and connection – all of which are not typically included in pornography. Men, on the other hand, prefer short-term triggers for arousal, which is precisely what pornography offers.
The research team also found a connection between using porn and having difficulties in forming and maintaining intimate relationships. In the world of cybersex, warmth, affection, and commitment are not issues – it’s just about sex and pleasure with no complaints or problems. This is not the reality when it comes to actual relationships. Additionally, as predicted, online sexual activities negatively impacted real life relationships, decreasing marital satisfaction and intimacy. Many partners view online sexual activity as a form of infidelity.
These findings provide a better understanding of the impact the fast-growing world of cybersex on real world relationships. Cybersex is a modern type of sexual activity that can damage relationships and threaten the sanctity of marriage. It can promote sexual addiction and compulsive sexual behavior – understanding this type of sexual activity can help with therapeutic and treatment measures.
