PRESENTED BY: PAOLA ZAVALA, CHRISTOPHER KHA, PAMELA TELLEZ, AND SHANNON SEARS

1. TOPIC: DOES SEXUAL CONTENT ON TELEVISION HAVE A CORRELATION WITH THE SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES OF ADOLESCENCE’S, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15-18?IF YES DOES THIS CONNECTION RENDER DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES? PRESENTED BY: PAOLA ZAVALA, CHRISTOPHER KHA, PAMELA TELLEZ, AND SHANNON SEARS

2. INTRODUCTION

3. WHY WE CHOSE THIS TOPIC… • We believe media, particularly television, is a factor of how the perceptions that adolescents take on sex is how casual it is portrayed to be. • We are interested in why sexual content has an effect if any, and want to learn the extent of some of the consequences it might render.

4. WHAT WE HOPE TO LEARN • We  would also like to find some solutions if there is a correlation between sexual content on television and the sexual attitudes and behaviors of teenagers, or at least reduce its harmful effects.

5. PROBABLE BIAS • We could be biased in this research because we fall into the age range we are currently studying, and because we only have our own personal perceptions about sex, and the occurrences within our environment. • However we conduced a survey where we asked other 15 to 18 year olds their opinions on questions related to our topic in an effort to eliminate these biases.

6. “From their earliest years, children watch television shows and movies that insist that “sex appeal” is a personal quality that people need to develop to the fullest. Teenagers are at risk –not only from AIDS and STDs- but from this sort of mass market encouragement.” –from Teen Sexual Behavior Most teenage girls associate sex with love, while most boys do not think sex is the ultimate expression of commitment. Either way sex is seen as casual encounter and this minimizes the risks and serious consequences because that is what they have been shown on Television. –from Teen Sexual Behavior WHY THIS HAS BECOME A CONCERN…

7. LITERATURE REVIEW AND FINDINGS

8. LITERATURE REVIEW • Kids with higher exposure to sex on TV are almost twice as likely than kids with lower exposure to initiate sexual intercourse. – Study Conducted by RAND and published in Sept. 2004 issue of Pediatrics • According to the AAP, the average youth watches about 3 hours of daily television and 54% of kids have a television in their bedroom. • In 2003, 83% of the episodes of the top 20 shows among teen viewers contained some sexual content, including 20% with sexual intercourse. • While the public seems to be concerned with the potential health risks of early, unprotected sexual activity, only about 1:11 of programs with sexual content mention possible risks or responsibilities…STDs other than AIDS and HIV are almost never discussed and unintended pregnancies are rarely shown as outcomes of unprotected sex.

9. LITERATURE REVIEW CONT… • According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, research has shown that “mindless’ television or video games may idle and impoverish the development of the pre-frontal cortex, or that portion of the brain that is responsible for planning, organizing, and sequencing behavior for self-control, moral judgment and attention.

10. LITERATURE REVIEW CONT… • It has been noted that adolescents with higher exposure levels have more permissive views of sexual activity before and outside marriage, are more likely to consider sexual activity as recreational and more negative attitudes on the restrictions of sexually oriented materials. (Kotrla, Bowie) • According to the social-cognitive theory of psychology, adolescents learn sexual behaviors and their likely consequences by watching television. Because adolescents acquire favorable beliefs about sex and confidence in their own sexual abilities as a result of viewing sexual content on television, the become more likely to attempt the modeled behaviors. (AAP)

11. OTHERS ARE CONCERNED TOO… • According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 75% of 1505 adults would like to see tighter enforcement on government rules on broadcast content, particularly when children are watching • In a 2005 Time Magazine poll, 53% of respondents think the FCC should place stricter controls on broadcast-channel shows depicting sex and violence…68% believe entertainment industry has lost touch with moral standards…50% believe there’s too much sexual content

12. STUDIES PERFORMED AND THEIR FINDINGS • The study conducted by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation included ,1114 television programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Home Box Office (HBO), Turner Network Television (TNT), Public Broadcasting Services PBS, USA, Lifetime and KTLA, a Los Angeles Warner Brothers’ network affiliate. Between October 1999 and March 2000 researchers reviewed movies, dramas, sitcoms, soap operas, newsmagazines, talk shows and reality shows.

13. STUDIES PERFORMED AND THEIR FINDINGS… • The American Academy of Pediatrics: Researchers conducted a longitudinal survey of 1,792 adolescents, 12 to 17 years of age in attempt to examine if portrayals of sex on entertainment television may contribute to precocious adolescent sex. In baseline and 1-year-follow-up interviews, participants reported their viewing habits and sexual experience and responded to measures of more than a dozen factors known to be associated with adolescent sexual initiation.

14. THE INTERVIEW WITH OUR EXPERT

15. EXPERT INTERVIEW • Lynne Head BSN RN Med LPC • She works from her home in Dallas where she pursues her practice of therapy. She is a Marriage & Family Therapist, Psychotherapist, Professional Speaker, Sports Therapist, Addiction Severity Specialist, Registered Nurse, and Sex Therapist. • Dr. Head stated that not only are teenagers affected by sexual content on television, but adults and everyone else are as well, in the sense that it devalues what sex is about, portrays sex as a tool of manipulation, and causes a skewed perception of sexuality to where it takes over one's identity.

16. ERIKSON’S 8 PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STAGES Identity-Role Confusion 12-18 which is the age group being studied (crucial period of development and can be easily influential)

17. CONTINUATION OF EXPERT INTERVIEW • In response to a way to find a solution to this problem of early sexual engagement, it was concluded that unless we changed the entire economy there really is not a way to solve it because it is an individual solution. There would have to be much self-esteem work enforced so that adolescents knew their worth and did not feel the need for attention. • Another idea for a solution discussed was for the Department of Health to visit the schools several times a year to educate the real problems and consequences with engaging in early sex.

18. V OF LOVE

19. Circular Thinking Vs. Linear Thinking Consequences

20. OUR SURVEY

21. SURVEY • 13/14 of them believe that TV shows portray sex as a casual activity instead of a serious decision. • ALL agreed that the media has an influence on how we view having sex at a young age or before marriage • 10/14 said that television has a influence on our sexual opinions • 13/14 say society has become more open to the idea of airing more sexual content • 13/14 said too much sexual content can have an influence on teenagers who watch a lot of television with sexual content

22. SURVEY CONCLUSIONS • Our opinions about the results • We think it supported our hypothesis, but the amount of television they watched surprised us because it was a lower amount than expected. However, it is safe to say that sexual content on television does play a role in the sexual beliefs of these individuals.

23. OUR CONCLUSIONS

24. CONCLUSIONS • We predict that if the sexual content on television continues to be aired in the quantity it is now, or if the amount increases, it will have a psychological influence on adolescents, making them believe that sex is a casual activity without real consequences. These beliefs or perceptions will most likely lead them to participate early in sexual activities. • WE RECOMMEND • Raise awareness in schools with the help of the Department of Health • Work on Moral Development • Parenting Techniques/ Styles