Whitty, Monica

'Cybercheating': Attitudes towards online infidelity

Abstract

The literature is replete with studies on attitudes towards offline infidelity. However, there is a paucity of research available on what online acts men and women might consider to be unfaithful. Research that has investigated online infidelity has mostly focused on addiction to cybersex and the available treatment for these cybersex addicts and their partners. However, there is a need to consider other types of activity, besides cybersex, as potential acts of infidelity. Moreover, given that accessing erotic material is not restricted to addicts, distinguishing potential acts of online infidelity is important to consider for the maintaining of both offline and online committed romantic relationships. This study examined how potential acts of offline infidelity compared with potential acts of online infidelity. In addition, gender and age differences were examined, together with how one's experience of using the Internet affects perception of online infidelity. For this study, 1117 participants completed a survey on their attitudes toward online and offline acts of infidelity. It was found that participants do consider online acts, such as cybersex and hot chatting to be acts of infidelity. In addition, gender, age and Internet experience differences were revealed. It is concluded here that engaging in virtual erotic communications online, while perhaps not as threatening as sexual intercourse, does offer some threat to couples.