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