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Television and sex‐role acquisition. 2: Effects
Author(s) -
Durkin Kevin
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1985.tb00680.x
Subject(s) - psychology , social psychology , television series , cognition , developmental psychology , sociology , neuroscience , media studies
This paper is the second in a three‐part review series of television and sex‐role acquisition. In the preceding paper, evidence was reviewed which establishes that much of television sex‐role content is highly stereotyped. This paper points out that the effects of this content upon young viewers have often been assumed rather than demonstrated. The less extensive but growing literature on the relationship between television viewing and sex‐role development is reviewed. Correlational and experimental studies are discussed. It is argued that the evidence of modest associations between amount of viewing and degree of sex typing claimed in some studies must be interpreted with caution, and it is pointed out that correlations have not always been found. Some interesting experimental work is taken as indicative of possible effects, but it is stressed that there is a fundamental need for more sophisticated theoretical accounts than the assumption that viewing time and effects are linearly related. Theoretical prospects are reviewed with reference to recent work in social‐cognitive development.