Does the Media Influence Social Behavior?

  Ψ  Pornography & Sexual Violence    
  
  •  Repeated exposure to fictional eroticism has several effects, it can:        
  
       •  decrease attraction to a life-time partner. 
         •  increase acceptance of extramarital sex.     
         
  •  In the U.S. pornography is a big business.   
  
 Ψ  Distorted Perceptions of Sexual Reality        
 
 •  Exposure to pornography increases acceptance of the "rape myth" - that some women welcome sexual assault - "that no 
 doesn't  really mean no".    
 
 Ψ Aggression against Women        
 
   •  Exposure to violent pornography increases punitive behavior toward women. 
  
   •  Media awareness training: By sensitizing people to the view of women that predominates in pornography & to issues 
   of sexual harassment & violence, it should be possible to counter the myth that women enjoy being coerced.    
   
Ψ Television's Effects on Behavior        

   •  Television is a cause of of social violence. It is a potentially controllable cause.       

   •  Television causes arousal, disinhibits behavior, & invokes imitation. If the imitation were of prosocial behavior it could 
   (& does) produce "good" results.    Ψ Video Games        
   
   •  Five consistent effects of playing violent video games:        
   
       1. increases arousal 
         2. increases aggressive thinking 
          3. increases aggressive feelings 
           4. increases aggressive behavior 
            5. decreases prosocial behaviors        
            
   •  The more violent the game the bigger the effects!        
   
   •  Contrary to the catharsis hypothesis , practicing violence breeds rather than releases violence!
  
                                                             ---------------------------------------
                                                                 Social Psychology
                                                                    Robert C. Gates