Date of Graduation

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

Terry Wimmer

Abstract

This project examines the sexual content in top-rated shows amongst teenage audiences. Cultivation theory and social learning theory (SLT) are the basis of the study to help determine what impact sexual portrayals on television have on this young audience. Scripts from the top shows from one television season were examined to determine first, how much sexual content existed in the scripts, and second, what type of sexual content it was in the form of gender-based dyadic communication. The most significant criteria analyzed was whether or not the content glorified sex or showed sexual consequences. The study found that the majority of sexual content glorified sex more than showed consequences.

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