Effects of Visual and Verbal Sexual Television Content and Perceived Realism on Attitudes and Beliefs‪.‬

Content analyses have repeatedly demonstrated that sex is a common element of television content (Kunkel, Cope, & Biely, 1999; Kunkel et al., 2003; Sapolsky & Tabarlet, 1991; Ward, 1995). These same analyses have shown that much of that content takes the form of talk about sex rather than depictions of sexual behaviors. Although the possible effects of sexual television content have received some attention in recent years, the nature and extent of such effects are still not clearly understood. In addition, available research is silent on the question of what kind of sexual representations--verbal depictions of sexual behaviors or talk about sex--produce observed effects. This study explores the nature of the effects of sexual television content by examining the effects of visual and verbal sexual content. Mixed Findings of Past Research