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Amanda Raynor

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What do people see for the future in terms of relationships and sexuality?

Over the past twenty years, with such a dramatic increase in new technologies, it seems that human relationships have also taken some interesting turns. As the world gets more complex, so do our relationships.

As an author in this field, I am astounded by the number of people who - regardless of our new abilities to communicate with each other - seem lost when it comes to connecting with other people. Oh, the questions they ask!

Therefore, I want to know what people see in terms of marriage - what will it mean or "be" in the future? What will people be doing in terms of monogamous vs. non-monogamous relationships, i.e. will we see an increase in alternate sexual lifestyles? What about sexual preference? How will people classify themselves in terms of sexuality - ex. heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual - and will these ratios be different than they are now? And what about intimacy, like will we still know how to embrace it? Or will we all be having sex with robots? OK, that last bit is a joke, sort of. Certainly, any thoughts on the subject would be welcome.

Topics: communication human behaviour marriage relationships sexuality society
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    Harald Jezek 50+

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    Apr 4 2011: Amanda, that's a lot of questions...lol
    I think it's a bit difficult to predict what will happen, especially since you are asking about sexuality, a topic, people don't talk nearly as freely as about their favorite book.
    That said, I think humans are social animals and that's not going to change. We all want in one way or the other direct contact with other individuals.
    Since the internet facilitates contact to many people at once, alternative life styles, indeed may rise. Not so much because people change, but it's easier to find like minded people.
    This also answers the question about monogamous vs. non-monogamous.
    Sexual preferences: I don't think that will change significantly, but the more society accepts gays, the more people might come out of their closet which in return might seem like an increase.
    I hope that we will not be ending up having sex with robots, although, I read that there are already devices in development that can simulate sex organs and are controlled remotely through the real body's reaction. The same is true for devices, capable of transmitting odors. No idea how far advanced these experiments are, though. So, I do think, that we will see a decline in intimacy, because of that, but because of increasingly less time left for intimacy.
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      Amanda Raynor

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      Apr 5 2011: I'm in the business of asking questions LOL or answering them anyway. And I think you are right, people don't talk about sex as easily as they may talk about their favourite book. I think the younger generation - i.e. university age and twenties - may have an easier time of it. I agree that it is probably not the nature of people that changes, just access to finding people of like mind. Life does seem busy. I know it is hard these days to even sit down to have dinner together let alone spend some quality romantic time. There are many distractions - phone, television, iPod, iPad, laptop, etc. I think sometimes it would probably be easier to have sex with a robot, though I do feel if we sway too far away from each others as individuals, that the pendulum is destined to come back. We are social animals and we do need each other.
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    Salim Solaiman 50+

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    Apr 4 2011: Let me start with question from your starting point. What change yourself observed last 20 years with development of technology in terms of realtionship and sexuality in your environment ?
    Yes communication impacts those but our realtionship and sexuality is not only ruled by communication , it's more controlled by culture we live in, the moral we uphold, social norms and also by religion. I don't feel all those will evaporate in future quickly to bring an breakthorugh change. Despite of our accumulated scientific knowledge huge population still live with dogma , so same thing will continue.

    Well lot of virtual sex now happening that is true. May be lot of inter country or inter continental sexual encounter now a days happening between in real after coming across virtually which may go on rise. But that's not going to change the relationship status upside down quickly.

    Just take an example, the western world has been more open in terms sexuality quite long compared to asian or under developed world for quite sometime. Does it mean western world don't have sound relationship or monogamy (this can be real big question ?).
    Another example , for professional reason I was in one of the middle eastern country for sometime which is one of strictest interms sexuality & relationship. 5 years back the society their denied to give access of mobile to female ( thinking that their sacred women will become polygamous once they have mobile in hand, though I know the male are so with in country even before having mobile and when outside country they are just rampant!) but they couldn't finally stop. I did not see that much change in sexuality in that close environment once mobile was open to all (may be many thing happened that out of my sight)

    However one thing is sure , if people only or mostly talk virtually then they willl not be efficient in real relationship and sexuality.

    Last not least , yes another term can be in place in to classify self is "NetSexual" :)
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      Amanda Raynor

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      Apr 5 2011: What changes have I myself seen in the past 20 years. Well, the ease with which one can access sex (or virtual sex) for one thing - porn now comes at the touch of a button. You don't have to seek it out anymore. It comes to you pretty much. As well, exposure to sexual acts at a much younger age and exposure to sexual activities that go way beyond what is conventional. I think my kids may know more about what people do in the bedroom that I do. It seems to be much more overt. It IS much more overt. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? A little of both I guess. Definitely changing.
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    Eve Ash

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    Apr 3 2011: Whilst people seem to be more open in their virtual world, there seems almost a set back in face to face communication and relationship skills. Maybe the skill level is growing for managing multi-relationships virtually (FaceBook)- but does this impact monogomy? I don't know! I definitely think the classifications will become less important. I am just producing another sexual education video right now (Herpes the Secret is Out) and in a section where we were planning to have a male and female 'model' animation we now have 6 models - 2 female, 2 male as well as the usual male and female.
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      Amanda Raynor

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      Apr 5 2011: I agree that with all this new technology, we are obliged to get better at managing multi-relationships. I do think sometimes people may be stretching themselves too thin though. More isn't always better, but try telling a teenager that, right? Interesting about the video. Certainly, our relationship circles tend to involve more people these days. I think we live in a world where we take what we can even if we don't need it and discard things too easily. We are bored easily and I think technology, as great as it is, plays a role in this. Just my opinion though.
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