Effects of sexual media

In order to analyze the effects the sexual media has on an individual, one must understand social cognitive theory, cultivation theory, and priming theory. These theories provide those who attempt to study the sexual media, the tools needed to uncover the ways in which the sexual media affects our behavior, beliefs, attitudes and emotions. In looking at these theories, one must consider the type of effect the theory is concerned with, the process that leads …

…is vital. “The observers’ identification with the media’s characters influences the extent o which they are affected by the witnessed occurrence.” However, the viewer must also perceive the media as realistic in order imagine themselves in the observed scene. Therefore, if a viewer is witnessing a scene with unrealistic sexual acts, with characters that he or she cannot relate to, it is very unlikely that the scene will activate thoughts in the viewers mind.