Another study concluded that by age 40 about 50 to 65 percent of husbands and 45 to 55 percent of wives become involved in an extramarital affair. A 1987 study surveyed 200 men and women and found that their affairs lasted an average of two years. They may begin as romantic, sexual, or emotional relationships and may become intimate friendships. Affairs that become friendships can last decades or a lifetime. Online affairs differ from other affairs in that they may not involve a physical component, but the emotional attachment is still there.
Online affairs develop because of the dual attraction of attention and anonymity.
A woman finds it exciting, even intoxicating, that all these men want to talk to her. And they are eager to hear what she says and needs. Anonymity feeds this intoxication because the person on the other end of this cyberaffair is unknown. He or she can be as beautiful and intelligent as your dreams can imagine. The fantasy is fueled by the lack of information and the anonymity.