Jiang, Qiaolei, Xiuqin Huang, and Ran Tao.
In Principles of addiction, pp. 809-818. 2013.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-398336-7.00081-4
Abstract
Cybersex refers to a kind of interactive erotic experience, which usually involves two or more participants having real-time sexual exchanges online with the purpose of sexual arousal and stimulation. The basic forms of cybersex are text cybersex and televideo cybersex. Different from real-life sex, cybersex is a cognitive and emotional exchange rather than a physical one, providing free region for imagination and fantasy. There are both positive and negative aspects of cybersex. The accessibility, affordability, anonymity, and acceptability of cybersex make it potentially addictive. As for the majority of cybersex participants, their online sexual experiences do not lead to problems in real life, but it can become problematic for those who already have a problem with sexual compulsivity or those who have psychological vulnerabilities, rendering them at risk for developing cybersex compulsivity. Clinicians and therapists have reported a growing number of clients addicted to cybersex, a form of both Internet addiction and sexual addiction, with the standard problems associated with addictive behaviors. However, at present there are few outlets for the treatment of cybersex addiction. There is a need for establishment and evaluation of treatment strategies for online sexual compulsivity/addiction.
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