Cara Offterdinger

Oftentimes, people will seek out affairs if they are going through a midlife crisis, facing inadequacy issues, or feeling like there is something missing from their marriage. With the internet, extramarital affairs have become extremely easy. Randy Frame addresses this issue in his article “Internet Infidelity: It Doesn’t Take A Physical Act To Betray Your Vows.” According to Frame, “internet communication meets two universal needs of men and women”: conversation for women and sex for men. Many women search for emotional conversations with men, whereas men will search for “women who will exchange sexual messages”. Frame also points out that the internet allows this extramarital contact without the risk of being seen in public. Dr. Marlene M. Maheu also mentions reasons for the prevalence of internet affairs in her pamphlet “The Future of Cybersex and Relationship Fidelity.” Maheu recognizes the “Triple A Engine” of internet affairs: anonymity, accessibility, affordability. These three characteristics of the internet reduce road blocks to traditional infidelity.