Cyberspace romance : the psychology of online relationships / Monica T. Whitty and Adrian N. Carr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Whitty, Monica T., 1969-

Contributor:

Carr, Adrian, 1951-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Online dating.

Dating (Social customs)--Computer network resources.

Dating (Social customs).

Physical Description:

xvi, 218 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Basingstoke [England] ; New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2006.

Summary:

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.

Contents:

1 Cyber-Relationships, the Story so Far 1

A brief history of the internet: From the defence force to human relationships 2

Online relationships: Cueless, shallow, and hostile or close and friendly? 6

Cyberspace: A place for the lonely to hang out? 8

Too much too soon: Boom or bust phenomena 10

Real relationships in cyberspace 10

Cyberspace: More radical opportunities for relationship development 12

More cues than meet the eye 14

SIDE model 15

SIP: Social information processing theory 16

Hyperpersonal communication 18

Cyberspace: A place to be more liberated 19

Sex in cyberspace 21

More self-disclosure online 22

True self versus actual self 23

Moving it offline successfully 25

Keeping up with the times 28

Developing a theory towards explaining cyber-relating 28

2 From Courtly Love to Cyber-Flirting 30

Vacillating from the home to the outside world 31

Romantic love in the postmodern era: How different is it? 33

Offline signals: The crucial place of non-verbal signals 38

Conceptualising cyberspace 41

Cyber-flirting: New rules 45

Cyber-flirting: Old rules 52

Bodies on internet dating sites 52

3 Playing at Love: Winnicott and Potential Space 56

The psychodynamics of play: The work of Donald Woods Winnicott 57

Winnicott and cyberspace 61

Cyberspace as a potential space for psychological growth and 'liberation'? 65

Object-relations theories: Regressive behaviour and splitting 66

Object-relations theories and the circulation of quasi-objects: A 'ball' in play 71

Identity 73

4 Object Engagement and Dysfunctional Aspects of Relating Online 79

Psychodynamics of object engagement: The work of Christopher Bollas 79

Object engagement and attachment: Dysfunctional and unhealthy outcomes 82

The generational character of objects 87

5 Cyber-Cheating: Can We Really be Liberated in Cyberspace? 88

Not all teddy bears are transitional 88

Internet infidelity 90

Splitting the good from the bad in cyberspace 104

Other problematic online relationships 107

6 Deviance and Cyberspace 109

The Numa Numa dance 109

Internet addiction 111

Cyber-harassment 115

Rape in cyberspace 120

Paedophilia 120

Misrepresentation of self online 122

7 Online Dating: Shopping for Love on the internet 124

Motivations for using an online dating site 125

Different paces for different spaces: Progression from online to offline 127

Online and offline attraction: Is it all that different? 130

All based on the first meeting 135

A numbers game 137

Filtering through the lies 139

Cliched self: Too many people strolling on the beach sipping red wine 142

Seeking out the 'true' self online 144

Strategies used to compose one's own profile: Which 'self' to present? 146

Online dating strategies: How to play the game 150

Conclusions about online dating 152

8 Characters and Archetypes in Cyberspace 153

Character type: The psychodynamic entree 153

Character type, change, and cyberspace 155

Character type and cyberspace: Research findings 156

Jung on archetypes 166

9 Visions of the Future 171

The future of online dating: Waxing or waning? 171

Bluetoothing and blogging for love 174

Like kids in a lolly shop 176

Writing as therapy 177

Online psychotherapy 178

The future of sex in cyberspace 180

Ethical considerations for future online research 182

On a 'concluding note' 190.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 193-211) and indexes.

ISBN:

1403945144

OCLC:

64453538

Publisher Number:

9781403945143

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description