Social science vs common sense

People who read this blog probably know I'm very much in favor for interpersonal communication instead of mass mediated channels. Basically because it has better effect on people's attitudes and behavior.

But sometimes studies very well demonstrate that media still has significant effects, even regarding our behavior. A recent study from School of Journalism and Mass communication at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill shows that teenagers with early exposure to sexual content in media seem likely to have sex earlier than teens with low consumption of sexual content. According to the study white teens in the top fifth of the "sexual media" diet when 12 to 14 years of age were more than twice as likely to have had intercourse by age 14 to 16, compared to those ranking in the lowest fifth.

This is the first study that has shown this connection.

The authors agree the study doesn't promise any direct cause-effects results. "It's very hard to establish causality," Jane D Brown, lead author said. But, "it's as strong a linkage as we have seen. It's a very strong association."

I don't know what you think but to me it seems to be pretty much common sense. Or "how was it for you" in your high school class? Who will disagree with this?

1. In your class there was a bunch of people, say about a fifth of the class, that didn't seem very sexually interested. They didn't dress sexy, they were shy talking about sex, they were pretty much occupied by being 14.

2. There was another group, say also about a fifth, who were dating more frequently, they had tried alcohol and they were making out in the schoolyard. If they were girls they would be kissing older boys.

3. The first group of people didn't care much about Madonna-videos and did not have any Playboy magazines under their bed.

4. The second group did.

Sexual content in media is not consumed by any person. It is consumed by persons who share and discuss the meaning of the content with others. On the other hand, watching Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise having sex in the sunset in Top Gun didn't make me less interested to try it myself. So of course, the more sexual content I watch or listen to, the more do I want it. But it doesn't change my values.