title: Effects of visual and verbal sexual television content and perceived realism on attitudes and beliefs.
abstract: Previous studies of the effects of sexual television content have resulted in mixed findings. Based on the information processing model of media effects, I proposed that the messages embodied n such content, the degree to which viewers perceive television content as realistic, and whether sexual content is conveyed using visual or verbal symbols may influence the nature or degree of such effects. I explored this possibility through an experiment in which 182 college undergraduates were exposed to visual or verbal sexual television content, neutral television content, or no television at all prior to completing measures of sexual attitudes and beliefs. Although exposure to sexual content generally did not produce significant main effects, it did influence the attitudes of those who perceive television to be relatively realistic. Verbal sexual content was found to influence beliefs about women's sexual activity among the same group.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, 2020 Frieze Bldg., 105 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1285, USA. ldt@umich.edu
authors.forename: Laramie D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Tayler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D011406:Propaganda; D012736:Sex Education / Q000592:standards; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television / Q000592:standards*