Love Online: Emotions on the Internet

by Aaron Ben-Ze'ev

Computers have changed not just the way we work but the way we love. Falling in and out of love, flirting, cheating, even having sex online have all become part of the modern way of living and loving. Yet we know very little about these new types of relationship. How is an online affair where the two people involved may never see or meet each other different from an affair in the real world? Does online sex still involve cheating on your partner? Why do people tell complete strangers their most intimate secrets? What are the rules of engagement? Will online affairs change the monogamous nature of romantic relationships? These are just some of the questions Professor Aaron Ben Ze'ev, distinguished writer and scholar, addresses in the first full length study of love online. Accessible, shocking, entertaining, enlightening, this book will change the way you look at cyberspace and love forever. Aaron Ben Ze'ev is a Professor at the Univeristy of Haifa in the Philosophy Department and has been the Rector of the University since 2000. He has published articles for many journals such as Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Philosophical Psychology, and Theory & Psychology among others. He has also had numerous books published including The Subtlety of Emotions (MIT Press, 2000) and The Perceptual System: A Philosophical and Psychological Perspective (Peter Lang,1993), both of which have been translated into Hebrew.

Genres: Psychology, Relationships, Love, Nonfiction, Social Media, Technology

302 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Петър Стойков · Rating 3 out of 5]

Всеки от поколението на IRC е забелязал, че отношенията в интернет не са точно същите, като на живо. В интернет човек някак успява да е по-интересен, хладнокръвен и страстен едновременно и именно това породи през деветдесетте у нас феномена на онлайн-връзките, където хора са са сериозни гаджета по две години без да са се виждали…

Аарон Бен-Зеев си е поставил за цел да анализира от психологическа и социална гледна точка какво точно е онлайн комуникацията и по-специално любовните и сексуални връзки по интернет. Книгата му е задълбочен и продробен поглед в кибер-секса „за една нощ“, влюбването, изневерите и т.н.

„Любовта онлайн. Емоциите в Интернет“ обаче страда от два недостатъка, заради които тя според мен няма да стане много популярна. Първият е, че книгата, макар и сравнително популярно написана (без специализирана психологическа терминология), е толкова аналитична и подробна, че би била четима за сравнително ограничена аудитория, която се занимава сериозно с тези въпроси. А всъщност дори и за тази аудитория, поради характера на това, което описва, книгата, написана през 2004 г. вече не носи актуална информация и има големи празноти – ютюб, фейсбук и скайп вече доминират онлайн комуникацията и съответно връзките в момента, а за тях няма и дума.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book delves into the very new and relevant world of the Internet. The focus here is mainly on relationships conducted solely via text, picture, and live as well as prerecorded video. The ambiguity and confusion that many feel in trying to relate e-relationships to "real" relationships shows through Ben-Ze'ev's careful defining of terms and creating of distinctions. It's a somewhat amusing book to peruse but I hope that more will be written on the topic in the future.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Good read"

I really enjoyed this book, but it may be too much of a scientific textbook to most people. This psychology/philosophy text is written by the Professor of Philosophy at the University of Haifa. In the modern age when we use the internet almost several hours per day, a lot of people out there are forming their personal relationships on line. This book provides interesting and informative discussions and analysis on the emotional impact of these new age relationships.

[Melati · Rating 4 out of 5]

the bible of my research, hehe =p

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting.