Cyberspace Romance: The Psychology of Online Relationships

Abstract

How do people play at love in cyberspace? How are these relationships different and similar to the way individuals initiate develop, and maintain offline relationships? Monica Whitty and Adrian Carr address each of these questions and argue that cyberspace should not be perceived as a conglomeration of bodiless selves. In this book cyberspace is depicted as a potentially more playful space than the offline world. Nonetheless, despite the liberating qualities cyberspace has to offer, cyberspace can be problematic for some--especially when individuals venture too far into the realms of fantasy. Through examples of Whitty's own research on cyber-relationships, online dating, internet infidelity, cyber-harassment, and presentation of self online, as well as drawing from other people's research, the positive and negative aspects of online relating are presented here. Cyberspace Romance is an invaluable resource for anyone studying or conducting research on internet relationships or interested in their own or others' online romances. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)(cover)