Alternative Medicine

Not only are sex robots on the horizon, but they might one day be covered by your health insurance, according to clinical psychologist and sex therapist Marianne Brandon.

During her presentation at the Applied Evolutionary Psychology Society’s Mental Health Symposium on June 4, Brandon argued that doctors might one day prescribe hyper-realistic sex robots to patients diagnosed as “sexually dysfunctional.”

And while that might sound like a harmless enough solution to a tragic problem, the impact on society could be devastating.

“Perfect” Partner

According to a Psychology Today story, Brandon noted during her presentation that sex robots are in development and that extremely sophisticated ones will likely arrive within the next decade or two.

These robots will likely be capable of carrying out nearly any sex act imaginable and could even have personalities that make them appear smart and witty — or whatever it is you’re into.

Brandon also believes the male majority in Congress will support and pass legislation that makes it possible for doctors to prescribe these robots to patients, with insurance companies footing the bill — an ease of access that will lead to a host of problems.

Ladies Last

During her presentation, Brandon shared a laundry list of potential issues she thinks could accompany the advent of sex bots.

For one, the robots will likely be disproportionately targeted toward men the same way pornography currently is, according to Brandon.

But while a lack of equal benefit for women is troubling, the damage these robots could do to relationships in general might be downright catastrophic.

Population Demise

Because the sex robots will be essentially the “perfect” sexual partner — attractive, compliant, convenient — they’ll make “real” relationships, with all their ups and downs, less appealing, according to Brandon. The quality of relationship intimacy will drop, she predicts, and people will be less motivated to work on problems with their mates.

Some people will opt out of traditional relationships altogether in favor of the bots, Brandon said during her presentation, possibly leading to a decrease in marriages and even birth rates.

In other words, sex robots might benefit individuals — but take a look at the bigger picture, and you might see them ushering in the end of human society as we know it.

READ MORE: Sex Robots and the End of Civilization [Psychology Today]

More on sex robots: Unsettling Sex Robot Looks Almost Exactly Like a Real Person