Sex on the Internet: observations and implications for Internet sex addiction

Journal of Sex Research, Nov, 2001 by Mark Griffiths

Although there are some strong similarities between men and women in the way that they view cybersex (e.g., both view it as a way of hiding physical appearance), there are important differences. Young et al. (2000) claim that women prefer cybersex because it removes the social stigma that women should not enjoy sex, and allows them a safe means to concentrate on their sexuality in new, uninhibited ways. Men prefer cybersex because it removes performance anxiety that may be underlying problems with premature ejaculation or impotence. It is unclear what empirical evidence Young et al. (2000) provide for all these assertions although such claims would form a good basis for further research. As we shall see on the following section, empirical data appears to substantiate Young et al.'s (2000) claims that men and women use cybersex differently-although not in the way that they assert.

Internet Sex Addiction: Empirical Data

Until very recently, empirical data surrounding excessive online sexual behavior was lacking. However, this situation is slowly starting to change. There have been a few studies of excessive Internet use which have found that a small proportion of users admitted using the Internet for sexual purposes (e.g., Cooper et al., 1999, 2000; Morahan-Martin & Schumacher, 1997; Scherer, 1997; Schwartz & Southern, 2000; Young, 1998b). Very few researchers have used the term Internet sex addiction, although their descriptions of excessive Internet sex among the populations they have observed appear to feature the general components of addiction outlined earlier.

Apart from case study accounts, only two major studies of cybersex addicts have been reported in the literature. The most impressive data set was collected by Cooper and colleagues and has been used as the basis for a number of empirically-based publications (e.g., Cooper et al. 1999, 2000). Perhaps the most relevant paper is the one by Cooper et al. (2000) which examined a group of "cybersexually compulsive" Internet users. They used the Kalichman Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS) (Kalichman et al., 1994) combined with time online in order to identify the group of users displaying cybersex compulsivity.

They presented new data on cybersex users, abusers and compulsives. Following reanalysis of previously collected data, four groups were identified: nonsexually compulsive (n = 7738), moderate SCS score (n = 1007), sexually compulsive (n = 424), and cybersexually compulsive (n = 96). Because time is only one dimension with which to identify individuals who may be sexually compulsive, other criteria were looked at. These included increased appetite, desire, or tolerance (contributing to increased time engaged in the activity); harm to self or others; denial or minimization of negative consequences; behavior interfering with social, academic, occupational, or recreational activities; obsession with the activity; and compulsion or loss of freedom in choosing whether to engage in a behavior (e.g., Carnes, 1991; Cooper, 1998b; Goodman, 1992; Schneider, 1994). Again, the criteria used to assess cyber sex compulsivity are highly compatible with the addiction components outlined earlier in the paper.