An understanding of the stages of engagement in online relationships can offer a framework for therapists working with individuals and couples dealing with online relationships and affairs. Drawing on narrative data from 314 key informants who had been involved in at least one relationship on the Internet, the authors constructed three developmental stages common to many participants engaged in such relationships: (1) an initial, falling in love stage of rapid intimacy; (2) a meeting of the minds, which often later leads to the feeling of a strong, “soul mate” type connection; (3) a virtual mirror stage of mutual optimization and idealization. The article concludes with a discussion of the therapeutic implications and suggestions for future research directions.
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Albright et al. (2003) studied this question.
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