Could you ever see yourself being attracted to a robot? Although the idea may seem a bit disconcerting, experts claim that attraction to virtual reality partners will be considered “the new normal” over the next 50 years.

According to Mirror Online, Dr. Helen Driscoll’s recent study ponders how technological advances could serve vast contributors to the evolution of robophilia, which has been defined as sexual attraction to robots. Dr. Driscoll, a preeminent expert with a professional emphasis on the psychology of sex and relationships, suggests physical relationships will be rendered obsolete over time due to the rapid advancement of robophilia.

Back in 2013, Dr. Driscoll released a brief documentary film detailing the projective evolution of robophilia. The concept delves into the life of a lonely man who actually falls in love with his computer.

“It could really start to enable mannequin partners to ‘come to life,'” Dr. Driscoll projects.

“We tend to think about issues such as virtual reality and robotic sex within the context of current norms. But if we think back to the social norms about sex that existed just 100 years ago, it is obvious that they have changed rapidly and radically. As virtual reality becomes more realistic and immersive and is able to mimic and even improve on the experience of sex with a human partner; it is conceivable that some will choose this in preference to sex with a less than perfect human being.”

Would YOU have sex with a robot? Intimate relationships with machines will be ... - Daily Mail http://t.co/4sADLCQ7EK #robots — Robot Robots (@RobotList) August 4, 2015

Dr. Driscoll adds, “People may also begin to fall in love with their virtual reality partners.” Although there are many who insist Dr. Driscoll’s projections are highly tenable, she insists that it is imperative not to underestimate the true essence of virtual relationships, as they can potentially be just as valuable as physical relationships.

“This may seem shocking and unusual now, but we should not automatically assume that virtual relationships have less value than real relationships. The fact is, people already fall in love with fictional characters though there is no chance to meet and interact with them.”

The Daily Mail reports that Dr. Driscoll has also cited a number of psychological benefits that can come from virtual sex partners. “Most people successfully integrate other forms of virtual reality into their lives, but virtual sex — not to mention love — will be seen by some as infidelity, and this will present real challenges to some relationships. In the world of the future, we could well see human relationships increasingly conducted entirely online. And, as some people start to prefer technologically enhanced virtual sex to sex with humans, we may also see greater numbers of people living alone, spending more time in virtual reality.”

Sex with robots will be ‘the norm’ in 50 years http://t.co/PjkGImD3gb pic.twitter.com/KQFYszvApc — The Independent (@Independent) August 4, 2015

Surprisingly, Dr. Driscoll’s previous blog for the Huffington Post revealed a number of shocking statistics about the gradual increase of virtual relationships in Japan. Statistical reports actually show that a staggering number of young Japanese people are already “avoiding sex and intimate relationship,” and Japanese men now have a heightened interest in virtual relationships, which supports Dr. Driscoll’s claims about the gradual changes she expects to occur.

Overall, Dr. Driscoll insists many people may begin to feel “a virtual partner is surely better than no partner at all.” Do you agree or disagree? Share your thoughts.

[Image via MensFame]