Sexuality and Internet Use: The Promise and Dangers in Cyberspace

Ami Rokach

Abstract


This review highlights the relationship between sexuality and Internet use, the various ways in which the Internet includes and enhances sexuality, how it affects sexual behaviors and attitudes, and the important role it has in peoples’ sexual behavior, education, interaction, and satisfaction. This article also presents the ‘two faces’ of the Internet. It is a useful, cheap, and widely available tool which ‘opens the world’ to people who only need to sit by the computer, but it may also include harmful, damaging, and twisted material which could – especially for the younger generation – be harmful and misleading.


Keywords


Psychology; Internet Use; Cyberspace; Sexuality.

References


Döring, N. M. (2009). The Internet’s impact on sexuality: A critical review of 15years of research. Computers in Human Behavior, 25(5), 1089–1101. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2009.04.003.

Döring, N. (2000). Feminist views of cybersex: Victimization, liberation and empowerment. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 3(5), 863-884. doi:10.1089/10949310050191845.

Adams, M. S., Oye, J., & Parker, T. S. (2003). Sexuality of older adults and the internet: From sex education to cybersex. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 18(3), 405-415. doi:10.1080/1468199031000153991.

Attwood, F. (2007). ’Other’ or ’one of us’?: The porn user in public & academic discourse. Participations: Journal of Audience & Reception Studies, 4(1). Available online: http://www.participations.org/Volume%204/Issue%201/4_01_attwood.htm

Westerik, H., Renckstorf, K., Lammers, J., & Wester, F. (2006). Transcending uses and gratifications: Media use as social action and the use of event history analysis. Communications, 31(2), 139-153. doi:10.1515/COMMUN.2006.010.

Paul, B., & Linz, D. G. (2008). The effects of exposure to virtual child pornography on viewer cognitions and attitudes toward deviant sexual behavior. Communication Research, 35(1), 3-38. doi:10.1177/0093650207309359.

Schell, B. H., Martin, M. V., Hung, P. C. K., & Rueda, L. (2007). Cyber child pornography: A review paper of the social and legal issues and remedies--and a proposed technological solution. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12(1), 45-63. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2006.03.003.

Lewandowski, S. (2003). Internetpornographie. Zeitschrift Für Sexualforschung, 16(4), 299-327. doi:10.1055/s-2003-44852.

Cooper, A. (1998). Sexuality and the internet: Surfing into the new millennium. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1(2), 187-193. doi:10.1089/cpb.1998.1.187.

Cooper, A., McLoughlin, I. P., & Campbell, K. M. (2000). Sexuality in cyberspace: Update for the 21st century. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 3(4), 521-536. doi:10.1089/109493100420142.

Zook, M. (2007). Report on the location of the internet adult industry. In K. Jacobs, M. Janssen, & M. Pasquinelli (Eds.), C’lickme: A netporn studies reader (pp. 103–124). Amsterdam, NL: Institute of Network Cultures.

Stack, S., Wasserman, I., & Kern, R. (2004). Adult social bonds and use of internet pornography. Social Science Quarterly, 85(1), 75-88. doi:10.1111/j.0038-4941.2004.08501006.x.

Træen, B., Nilsen, T. S., & Stigum, H. (2006). Use of pornography in traditional media and on the internet in Norway. Journal of Sex Research, 43(3), 245-254. doi:10.1080/00224490609552323.

Brown, J. D., & L'Engle, K. L. (2009). X-rated: Sexual attitudes and behaviors associated with U.S. early adolescents' exposure to sexually explicit media. Communication Research, 36(1), 129-151. doi:10.1177/0093650208326465.

Goodson, P., McCormick, D., & Evans, A. (2001). Searching for sexually explicit materials on the internet: An exploratory study of college students' behavior and attitudes. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 30(2), 101-118. doi:10.1023/A:1002724116437

Cordonnier, V. (2006). Cybersex and addiction: Is therapy possible?. Sexologies, 15(3), 202-209.

Meerkerk, G., van, d. E., & Garretsen, H. F. L. (2006). Predicting compulsive internet use: It's all about sex! CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9(1), 95-103. doi:10.1089/cpb.2006.9.95.

Young, K. S. (2008). Internet sex addiction risk factors, stages of development, and treatment. American Behavioral Scientist, 52(1), 21-37. doi:10.1177/0002764208321339.

Singel, R. (2004). Internet porn: Worse than crack? Available online: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/11/ 65772.

Morahan-Martin, J. (2005). Internet abuse: Addiction? disorder? symptom? alternative explanations? Social Science Computer Review, 23(1), 39-48. doi:10.1177/0894439304271533.

Shaw, M., & Black, D. W. (2008). Internet addiction: Definition, assessment, epidemiology and clinical management. CNS Drugs, 22(5), 353-365. doi:10.2165/00023210-200822050-00001.

Albright, J. M. (2008). Sex in america online: An exploration of sex, marital status, and sexual identity in internet sex seeking and its impacts. Journal of Sex Research, 45(2), 175-186. doi:10.1080/00224490801987481.

Cooper, A., Scherer, C. R., Boies, S. C., & Gordon, B. L. (1999). Sexuality on the internet: From sexual exploration to pathological expression. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 30(2), 154-164. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.30.2.154.

Burke, A., Sowerbutts, S., Blundell, B., & Sherry, M. (2002). Child pornography and the internet: Policing and treatment issues. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 9(1), 79-84. doi:10.1375/132187102760196925.

Quayle, E., Vaughan, M., & Taylor, M. (2006). Sex offenders, internet child abuse images and emotional avoidance: The importance of values. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11(1), 1-11. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2005.02.005.

Quayle, E., & Taylor, M. (2002). Child pornography and the internet: Perpetuating a cycle of abuse. Deviant Behavior, 23(4), 331-362. doi:10.1080/01639620290086413.

Quayle, E., & Taylor, M. (2003). Model of problematic internet use in people with sexual interest in children. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 6(1), 93-106. doi:10.1089/109493103321168009.

Barak, A., Fisher, W. A., Belfry, S., & Lashambe, D. R. (1999). Sex, guys, and cyberspace: Effects of internet pornography and individual differences on men's attitudes toward women. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 11(1), 63-91. doi:10.1300/J056v11n01_04.

Lam, C. B., & Chan, D. K. -. (2007). The use of cyberpornography by young men in Hong Kong: Some psychosocial correlates. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36(4), 588-598. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-9124-5.

Fisher, W. A., & Barak, A. (2000). Online sex shops: Phenomenological, psychological, and ideological perspectives on internet sexuality. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 3(4), 575-589. doi:10.1089/109493100420188.

Davies, K., & Evans, L. (2007). A virtual view of managing violence among british escorts. Deviant Behavior, 28(6), 525-551. doi:10.1080/01639620701316830.

Jones, C. (2001). Surfing the crime net: Sex tourism. Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 3(3), 53-57. doi:10.1057/palgrave.cpcs.8140098.

Surtees, R. (2008). Traffickers and trafficking in southern and eastern Europe: Considering the other side of human trafficking. European Journal of Criminology, 5(1), 39-68. doi:10.1177/1477370807084224.

Bernstein, E. (2007). Sex work for the middle classes. Sexualities, 10(4), 473-488. doi:10.1177/1363460707080984.

Gray, N. J., & Klein, J. D. (2006). Adolescents and the internet: health and sexuality information. Current opinion in obstetrics and Gynecology, 18(5), 519-524.

Boies, S. C. (2002). University students' uses of and reactions to online sexual information and entertainment: Links to online and offline sexual behaviour. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 11(2), 77-89.

Daneback, K., Cooper, A., & Månsson, S. (2005). An internet study of cybersex participants. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34(3), 321-328. doi:10.1007/s10508-005-3120-z.

Derks, D., Fischer, A. H., & Bos, A. E. R. (2008). The role of emotion in computer-mediated communication: A review. Computers in Human Behavior, 24(3), 766-785. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2007.04.004.

McKenna, K. Y. A., Green, A. S., & Smith, P. K. (2001). Demarginalizing the sexual self. Journal of Sex Research, 38(4), 302-311. doi:10.1080/00224490109552101.

Schwartz, M. F., & Southern, S. (2000). Compulsive cybersex: The new tea room. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 7(1-2), 127-144. doi:10.1080/10720160008400211.

Ferree, M. C. (2003). Women and the web: Cybersex activity and implications. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 18(3), 385-393. doi:10.1080/1468199031000153973.

Mileham, B. L. A. (2007). Online infidelity in internet chat rooms: An ethnographic exploration. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(1), 11-31. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2004.03.033.

Young, K. S. (2006). Online infidelity: Evaluation and treatment implications. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 5(2), 43-56. doi:10.1300/J398v05n02_03.

Barak, A. (2005). Sexual harassment on the internet. Social Science Computer Review, 23(1), 77-92. doi:10.1177/0894439304271540.

Mitchell, K. J., Wolak, J., & Finkelhor, D. (2007). Trends in youth reports of sexual solicitations, harassment and unwanted exposure to pornography on the internet. Journal of Adolescent Health, 40(2), 116-126. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.05.021.

Bolding, G., Davis, M., Hart, G., Sherr, L., & Elford, J. (2007). Where young MSM meet their first sexual partner: The role of the internet. AIDS and Behavior, 11(4), 522-526. doi:10.1007/s10461-007-9224-9.

Daneback, K., Månsson, S., & Ross, M. W. (2007). Using the internet to find offline sex partners. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(1), 100-107. doi:10.1089/cpb.2006.9986.

Couch, D., & Liamputtong, P. (2007). Online dating and mating: Perceptions of risk and health among online users. Health, Risk & Society, 9(3), 275-294. doi:10.1080/13698570701488936.

Poon, M. K., Ho, P. T., Wong, J. P., Wong, G., & Lee, R. (2005). Psychosocial experiences of east and southeast asian men who use gay internet chatrooms in Toronto: An implication for HIV/AIDS prevention. Ethnicity & Health, 10(2), 145-167. doi:10.1080/13557850500071202.

Malesky, L. A. (2007). Predatory online behavior: Modus operandi of convicted sex offenders in identifying potential victims and contacting minors over the internet. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse: Research, Treatment, & Program Innovations for Victims, Survivors, & Offenders, 16(2), 23-32. doi:10.1300/J070v16n02_02.

Mitchell, K. J., Finkelhor, D., & Wolak, J. (2005). The internet and family and acquaintance sexual abuse. Child Maltreatment, 10(1), 49-60. doi:10.1177/1077559504271917.

Liau, A., Millett, G., & Marks, G. (2006). Meta-analytic examination of online sex-seeking and sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men. Sexually transmitted diseases, 33(9), 576-584.

McFarlane, M., Kachur, R., Bull, S., & Rietmeijer, C. (2004). Women, the internet, and sexually transmitted infections. Journal of Women's Health, 13(6), 689-694. doi:10.1089/jwh.2004.13.689.


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2020-0203-5

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2020 ami rokach