The Sex and Psychology Podcast is the sex ed you never got in school—and won’t find anywhere else. Kinsey Institute researcher Dr. Justin Lehmiller takes you on a journey through the psychology of sex and relationships, offering practical tips along the way that can help you take your intimate life to the next level. Learn more on Dr. Lehmiller’s blog at sexandpsychology.com
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The Sex and Psychology Podcast is the sex ed you never got in school—and won’t find anywhere else. Kinsey Institute researcher Dr. Justin Lehmiller takes you on a journey through the psychology of sex and relationships, offering practical tips along the way that can help you take your intimate life to the next level. Learn more on Dr. Lehmiller’s blog at sexandpsychology.com
People’s definitions of cheating are evolving. Infidelity isn’t just about physical betrayal anymore. It’s emotional, it’s digital, and sometimes it doesn’t even involve another human at all. In today’s show, we’re diving into the new rules of cheating. We’re also going to talk about how modern technology is making it harder than ever to keep infidelity a secret.
I am joined once again by Dr. Amanda Gesselman a research scientist and head of the VIBES research team at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. Digital intimacy is a major focus of her research, including how people use tools like camsites, AI companions, dating apps, and social media to navigate connection and desire.
Some of the specific topics we explore in this episode include:
What do people today think “counts” as cheating?
Is watching porn a form of infidelity? What about sexting with an AI chatbot?
How many people suspect a partner has cheated on them before?
What kind of detective work do people do to determine if a partner has cheated?
How do we balance the benefits and challenges of digital intimacy?
To learn more, you can read a brief report of this study here.
Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.
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Thank you to our sponsors!
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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Sex and Psychology Podcast
The Sex and Psychology Podcast is the sex ed you never got in school—and won’t find anywhere else. Kinsey Institute researcher Dr. Justin Lehmiller takes you on a journey through the psychology of sex and relationships, offering practical tips along the way that can help you take your intimate life to the next level. Learn more on Dr. Lehmiller’s blog at sexandpsychology.com