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Ain’t nothing like the real thing

Contemporary college culture supports students who – looking to have unique sexual encounters without first having to woo a potential partner – engage in casual sex with other like-minded people.

Surveys of college students suggest that “hook-ups” are just one way that students are forgoing romantic relationships as too time-consuming, but maintaining an active sex life. Students also turn to cybersex for virtual, no-stringsattached sexual encounters.

Cybersex is defined by the Miriam- Webster Collegiate Dictionary as “online sex-oriented conversations and exchanges.” Cybersex media include chat rooms, virtual reality sites, and webcams.

Cybersex may seem like a relatively risk-free act compared to hooking up, but make no mistake –virtual sex acts can have real-life consequences.

First of all, college students are more susceptible to compulsive cybersex use than members of any other profession, according to a study completed in 2000 titled, “Cybersex participants, abusers, and compulsives: New findings and implications.” Compulsive individuals spend so much time online that they neglect their relationships, jobs, school, or other obligations, the study says.

According to research from the 2004 study, “Online sexual activity: An examination of potentially problematic behaviors,” just11 hours a week of “Internet pornographic behavior” (which often falls under “cybersex” definitions) is enough to lead to intrapersonal and interpersonal problems in financial, legal, occupational, and recreational areas of users’ lives.

Though relationships may not be a priority for people while they are in school, it’s safe to say that most plan to commit to a relationship eventually, and expect that sex will be a part of that relationship.

According to a study published in 1999 called, “Sexuality on the internet: From sexual exploration to pathological expression,” prolonged use of cybersex as a means of achieving sexual satisfaction can undermine an individual’s ability to maintain satisfying sexual relationships with real partners. The inability to fully enjoy a partner’s company will add stress to any relationship.

Dr. Jennifer P. Schneider, an expert in addictive sexual disorders, conducted a survey of 94 people whose partners were compulsive cybersex users. Participants in the survey reported feeling betrayed, rejected, ashamed, jealous, and angry, as well as loss of self-esteem in response to their partner’s cybersex use, and more than 20 percent of the survey participants reported ending their relationship because of their partner’s cybersex use.

And, let’s be honest –physical sex with another person simply has greater potential for pleasure than any form of cybersex. Cybersex is short on stimulation: chat rooms offer arousing ideas through text, other sites offer visuals, but often no audio. Webcams offer visual and audile stimulation. However, no form of cybersex provides the wonderful (assuming your partner is a conscientious one) tactile sensation of another person’s skin against yours.

In fact, physical intimacy is a key factor in sexual enjoyment and health, and absent from cybersex. Dr. Stuart Brody, a clinical psychologist who teaches at the University of the West of Scotland, writes in his own clinical research that the body’s production of the hormone prolactin, which indicates sexual satiety, is 400 percent greater following penile-vaginal (PV) orgasm than following an orgasm produced by masturbation.

Dr. Brody’s studies also showed that individuals who had PV intercourse had healthier physiological reactions (changes in blood pressure) to induced stress than individuals who engaged in both PV intercourse and other sex acts, such as masturbation, and individuals who engaged only in non-PV sex acts during the study.

Risk of contracting STDs during sex (and of pregnancy) is reduced when condoms are used correctly and consistently, according to the Centers of Disease Control, and they can be found for free from a variety of public and health institutions. In fact, DCCC’s health center offers them.

College students already spend hours a week on networking sites, YouTube and, presumably, completing coursework –the last thing they need is to add to their time on the computer.

And, remember, in the words of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s 1968 hit single, there “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” baby.

Contact Ariel Senko at communitarian@mail.dccc.edu

The Communitarian Opinion Policy: The opinions expressed on the editorial and the op-ed pages do not necessarily reflect those of The Communitarian staff or college. We welcome your comments on any matter relating to Delaware County Community College, and responsible rebuttal is encouraged. Write to communitarian@mail.dccc.edu. Please write “letter to editor” in the subject box.