Mass Media Effects

Running Head : MASS MEDIA EFFECTS

Mass Media Effects on Sexual Education of Children

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Mass Media Effects on Sexual Education of Children

Introduction

Messages about sex and sexuality are prevalent and pervasive in American culture . A message about sex may be as blatant as a photograph of a nude man and woman having sexual intercourse , or it may be more subtle , as an advertisement featuring a man or woman dressed in revealing clothing designed to persuade consumers to purchase a product or service Children

receive messages about sex and sexuality that explain sexual differences , indicate sexual roles , and teach them what it means to be sexual beings from the time they are infants

These messages may come from a spectrum of information , from which different meanings may be interpreted . Because sexual messages are received at a young age and are readily available , they are likely memorable messages , and the interpretation of the meaning of these messages may lead to the development of certain attitudes and knowledge about sex . Messages about sex and sexuality that are received during childhood and adolescence will likely influence sexual values , beliefs , and attitudes , and ultimately sexual experiences , sexual behavior , and intimate relationships

Forms of media , such as television , film , popular music , music videos and the Internet provide information about sex and sexual behavior by providing visual and auditory experiences to deliver messages . The National Institute for Mental Health has reported on the degree to which mass media are actually educational about sex . Since media contribute to the socialization of children and adolescents , they are also socialized in what are appropriate sexual activities . Our society today has many messages that are confusing and conflicting when it comes to sexuality Adolescents are searching through the images for a code that will define how they are going to act

Television is the most powerful storyteller to which our culture has ever been subjected . This media is "proficient at taking an otherwise vastly diverse population of people and defining for them a common set of conceptions and expectations about life . Before parents even think to sit down with their children or adolescents and talk about boys and girls , sex , and relationships , the television has already written a script for them to follow . Parents and peers are no longer the major sources of information for teenagers . While adolescents search for answers and autonomy , they turn away from their parents and to mass media . Television provides an alternative to asking questions about your problems . It 's a way to figure things out seemingly by yourself

The explores the effects mass media , and particularly television have upon children . The builds upon research on theoretical underpinnings , such as Social Learning Theory and memorable messages Then the impact of memorable messages on behavior , media as sources of sexual information and the content and meaning of early sexual messages are explored . Finally , some conclusive remarks are presented

Social Learning Theory

There are specific theoretical approaches and types of frameworks that...