POSITIVES
While many people view online sexual activities as having a negative impact, research has shown that there are potential positive outcomes that can result from a user engaging in online sexual activities. The majority of online sexual activity has in fact shown to not be problematic. Studies have shown that online sexual fantasies can be used to help in many ways such as relaxing and relieving stress. In addition, it can also be used as an outlet for exploration purposes and recreational use. Many users have claimed that online sexual activity has allowed them to meet others online and form relationships (Cooper et al., 2004). Many users have claimed that online sexual fantasies can be helpful and used as a mechanism to relax and relieve stress. In addition to users exploring and using online sexual activities for recreational purposes, 6% of users identified their primary reason for use as a way to cope with stress. 31% of subjects reported that the use of online sexual activity increased their offline sexual activity or they experienced no change in their offline relationship at all. Online sexual activity has also shown as a way for individuals to meet others online as well as form a romantic relationship. Some women reported some positive aspects of their partners use of OSA. About half of women said that partners use lead to variety in their sexual interactions and improved arousal levels as well (Grov et al., 2011). Overall, users proclaim that their online sexual activity use is not problematic (Cooper et al., 2004). |
NEGATIVES
Online sexual activity has been proven to have a largely negative impact on many users offline lives. 56% of users reported that online sexual activity was a distraction in their daily lives and routines. Almost 10% found that online sexual activity had a disruptive impact and their thoughts, and that they couldn't control them (Cooper et al., 2004). Nearly 15% of users indicated that their online sexual activity use increased significantly over time, and therefore began to consume more of their time. In addition, almost 10% of users claimed that they viewed their online sexual activity as a problem. Over slightly 9% of users said they felt like their online sexual activity use was out of control while 14% reported that others complained about their active use, and 10% felt like they were addicted to the combination of the internet and sex (Cooper et al., 2004). According to Cooper et al. (2004), sexual behaviors become a problem when three general criteria are met: obsession, compulsion, and consequences to self or others. An obsession is a reoccurring idea, thought, impulse, or image that is perceived to be intrusive to daily life and that causes anxiety or distress (Cooper et al., 2004). Those who become obsessive with OSA will spend a lot of time fantasizing, planning, and thinking about their next engagement with OSA. A common problem among obsessive OSA users is trying to find the perfect image and/or material to satisfy their fantasy (Cooper et al., 2004). This behavior becomes problematic because it is time consuming and intrusive to daily life. Once that perfect image/material is found, their fantasy is fulfilled for a short amount of time and then the cycle will repeat and persist (Cooper et al., 2004). Compulsion is the inability to resist the urge to engage in a behavior. Sexual compulsion is the inability to resist the urge to engage in an irrational sexual act (Cooper et al., 2004). In one particular study by Cooper et al. (2004), compulsion was measured by the frequency of the activity. On average, individuals reported spending nearly 3 hours a week on OSA. The results determined that individuals who spent 11 or more hours on OSA suffered significantly greater consequences than those who spent less than 11 hours on OSA. Another possible indicator of compulsion other than frequency is the increased amount of time and risk involved in OSA (psychological tolerance) (Cooper et al., 2004). Nearly 15% of this study's sample reported that their OSA use has increased a lot and nearly 10% reported their OSA use to be a problem. The last criteria that needs to be met for a sexual behavior to be considered problematic is when consequences occur to oneself or to others. For example, meeting others online through OSA leads to a greater risk of obtaining an STD (Cooper et al., 2004). It is also harder to screen people you meet through OSA before you meet them. For the fantasy type users, they could begin to create a separate sexual life, allowing them to become distracted from their primary relationships (Cooper et al., 2004). According to another study by Grov et al. (2011) some participants reported consequences such as, loss of employment, complaints by others, and a decrease in a desire to do real life activities. For an example of a consequence in personal relationships, women claim to feel more critical of their body image and feel more pressured to perform certain sexual activities because of their partner's OSA use (Grov et al., 2011). |