Futurologists Sex and relationships are changing

Futurologist: Sex and partnership are changing

05/08/2012

Researchers at the Kelkheim Institute for Futures Research predict a downturn in traditionally lived partnerships. Instead, appointments, relationships with multiple partners or partnerships without sex life would make society more relevant. While Christian morality diminishes, the Internet plays a mediating role. Actual niches in terms of love and sexuality are gaining more and more relevance.

Farewell to traditionally lived partnerships and role-building
According to futurologists, traditional partnerships and role models are playing an increasingly minor role in our society. For this, relationships that are contractually agreed, casual sex without mutual commitment, or sex according to the schedule will increasingly find favor. Also, partnerships without sex are steadily increasing, as the Kelkheim futurologists report in their in-house journal "Trend Update". "Love practices that have long been stigmatized as a moral decline move from the margins of society into the mainstream," says Andreas Steinle of the Frankfurt Zukunftsinstitut to press representatives in Kelkheim. Morale ideas, such as those that are shaped socially by the Christian churches, for example, are gradually lessening in Steinle's view. Individually "negotiated dates" increasingly determine the couple life in Germany.

Side jumps lose the stigma scam
As early as 2007, the institute had predicted in its study "Sexstyles" that in the coming years "infidelities increasingly lose the stigma of cheating and morally reprehensible." Especially people who are in the middle of their lives, are in the question of sexual Infidelity "more liberal, conciliatory, less dogmatic and contemptible."

In the future, according to the researchers, but also asexual partnerships without sex in addition to polyamorous relationships with different relationships that are conducted in parallel, practiced more and more often. But these forms will be different from the partner changes associated with lovesickness and jealousy. "An important factor in such arrangements is that they are based on voluntariness and transparency," explains the expert. Still, the traditional relationship between two people remains the defining model, though not as dominant as it is today.

Answer to Emancipation and Occupational Stress
The everyday professional life and the equally existing career will both sexes let the "sex according to diary" more and more in the foreground. It is an answer to stress, high workload, parenting, care and lack of time, says the researcher. "This is aggravated by the mobility." Increasingly counsel psychotherapists in such situations to date the sexual act in order to recover the formerly intimate intimacy.

In the interim tones of love and friendship, new relationship models emerge as well. In a friendly familiarity then just happen "occasional sex". Possible and often practiced is uncomplicated sex without mutual commitment. There are no mutual moral, domestic or financial obligations.

Internet as an amplifier
By facilitating communication through the Internet, people with their different and sometimes special likes and dislikes can find their potential partners more easily. The Internet is acting like an amplifier in these future developments, says Steinle. In addition, smaller niches and marginalization through the Internet would gain a public perception, as it previously was not possible in the form at all. So even small movements, visions and models could grow. But even the traditional partnership model is very successful on the Web. Already 25 percent of all adults living in Germany find their partner via a single portal. Nearly 7.8 million people regularly travel on one of these numerous Internet portals. "Today we see a new counter and search movement, catalyzed by the Internet and this time supported by intellectual women, who demand the right to erotic self-determination with the equal rights." And as it says: "The liberation of man, is a matter for man . "(Sb)

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