Does Loving an Avatar Threaten Real Life Marriage?

Authors

  • Richard A Kolotkin Minnesota State University Moorhead
  • Maggie M Williams
  • Casey Lloyd
  • Earnest W Hallford

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4101/jvwr.v5i3.6296

Keywords:

relationship satisfaction, virtual relationships, online romance, avatar partners, virtual love, MMPORG, Internet romance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of relationship satisfaction and its predictors for those who simultaneously maintain committed relationships, in both real life (RL) and in an immersive virtual world, with either the same or a different partner. All 236 self-selected study participants were recruited on the virtual, multiplayer, online game and social platform of Second Life (SL), screened to insure that they had a committed relationship with both an avatar and a RL partner, and then asked to respond to an online survey about these relationships, and how satisfying they were. The results showed that (1) virtual committed relationships with a partner other than one

Author Biography

Richard A Kolotkin, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Academic Year Mailing Address:

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Published

2012-12-24

Issue

Section

Assembled (rush to press papers)