"SEX, DRUGS, ROCK 'N'
ROLL": CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, & THE MEDIA
Strasburger, Victor C.
University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Do the media merely
reflect human behavior, or do they actually cause aggressive
behavior, early sexual activity, and drug-taking in children and
adolescents? How solid is the
evidence from communication studies about media effects on young
people? Is Hollywood to blame
for the recent epidemic of schoolyard violence, or is America simply
obsessed with guns?
This presentation will
briefly review and examine a broad array of communications research as it
applies to children and adolescents.
The recent UNESCO study (1998) examined more than 5,000 children
from 23 countries around the globe and specifically excluded the
United States. It found that
93% of the world's children have access to a TV set. Nearly 90% of the 12 year-olds
surveyed could recognize Arnold Schwarzenegger as an action hero. Media violence was found to be
universal, and violent behavior was usually presented in a rewarding
context.
Similar studies exist
concerning teenagers and cigarette and alcohol advertising around the
globe. Unfortunately, few
studies have been conducted regarding teenagers' sexual attitudes and
behavior and their use of media.
Suggestions regarding
media violence, sexual violence, and alcohol and tobacco advertising will
be presented.
Suggested further reading:
Singer DG, Singer JL: HANDBOOK OF CHILDREN AND THE
MEDIA. Sage Publications,
Thousand Oaks, CA, 2001.
Strasburger
VC, Donnerstein E: Children,
adolescents, and the media: Issues and solutions. Pediatrics
103:129-139, January 1999.
Strasburger VC, Wilson BJ:
CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND THE MEDIA:
MEDICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2002, in press.