Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

This focused multimedia and didactic presentation is organized as a non-judgemental, multi-generational and human evolutionary overview of the effect of technology and digital media on the most intimate parts of human existence (dating, mating, sexuality, intimacy, relationship). Its focus is to generate awareness and empathy toward encouraging behavioural health agencies and clinicians to provide the most useful work with these rapidly changing technological times as our background. One no longer needs to look to the heavens to search for signs of intelligent life, because we are not alone anymore. Human beings are in a rapidly escalating, increasingly integrated and evolutionary relationship with our own technology. As each nanosecond passes, the digital systems we ourselves created continue to evoke radical and drastic changes to who we are as human beings, altering in fact-our very understanding of what defines reality . In single generation- eons-old patterns of human social interaction both planted in our DNA and learned via our culture- have changed forever. Ask yourself: in the digital age, what is a relationship Do you have to meet someone in person to really know or even love them What is sex, when sex can be virtual What is infidelity What is a friend What is community...The questions are endless and how you answer them will likely depend on how old you are.

Biography

Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT-S, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development Elements Behavioral Health, has developed ongoing clinical programs for The Ranch in Nunnelly Tennessee, Promises Treatment Centers in Malibu & The Sexual Recovery Institute in California (founded by Mr. Weiss in 1995). A licensed, UCLA MSW graduate and personal trainee of Dr. Patrick Carnes. He is author of Cruise Control Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men and co-author of both Untangling the Web and the upcoming 2013 release, Closer Together: Further Apart- The Effect of Digital Technology on Sex, Dating and Relationships with Dr. Jennifer Schneider, along with numerous peer reviewed articles and chapters. An author and subject expert on the relationship between digital technology and human sexuality. He has served as a media specialist for CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Network, the NY Times, LA Times and the Today Show among many others. He has also provided clinical multi-addiction training and behavioral health program development for the US military and multi-addiction treatment centers throughout the United States, Europe and Asia