Affairs of the Net: The Cybershrink's Guide to Online Relationships

Every day the media bombards us stories about people connecting through the Internet. In all this hype, there remains so much confusion and misconceptions as to what is really happening and why people feel the need to connect with others online. The truth is, that in a world of stalkings, STDs and increasing violence, people are searching for intimacy -- possibly more than ever before. Therapists and Cybershrinks Michael Adamse and Sheree Motta use their expertise as relationship counselors to examine the most important content on the Internet: emotion. They look inside online relationships and answer the whos, hows, and whys. Included are profiles of personalities you're likely to meet in chat rooms and instant messaging; the differences between men and women online; friendships, romances, and affairs in cyberspace; what cybersex really involves; and warning signs to help identify when normal computer use has become an addiction. Containing real online conversations and first-person situations, this book is a valuable Internet users' guide and one of the most important books on relationships available today. It is fascinating reading for both newbies and pros - for those looking for companionship online and those interested in 'just looking'. Previously released as 'Online Friendship Chat-Room Romance and Cybersex.'