Running Head: THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

The Effects of Portrayed Romantic Relationships in Mass Media on Romantic Relationships Megan Guerrieri Slippery Rock University Communication Research Methods Research Proposal May 10, 2013

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Abstract

Mass media is a prominent factor in how people shape their perceptions of the world. Mass media is used as a tool to teach children, teens, and adults the values they should hold, the ways they should act, and, most importantly, how they should interact with the people around them. Romance is something that portrayed in the media often. From love triangles to marriages to secret affairs, love is a prominent theme throughout all mass media. But what are the romantic relationships in the media teaching people about romance and love. In previous research done, mass media was shown to have an effect on the way people thought about romantic relationships. It affected their relational values, expected gender roles, and the happiness level associated with romantic relationships. The area, however, is in need of more research. It is not known whether the relational values people hold are because of mass media or the upbringing that they had. The research that needs to be done is if people think that the romantic relationships portrayed in television shows, movies, and books are a mirror to reality. If they think that those romantic relationships can be applied to real life, then mass media has affected the way we think about romance and love.

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

The Effects of Portrayed Romantic Relationships in Mass Media on Romantic Relationships Ever since I was little, I grew up picturing the man that I was going to marry. I had weddings that I coordinated myself and imagined what my groom would look like and how happy I would be to be in that moment. These ideals were backed up by all the Disney movies that I watched as well. The Disney movies always starred a princess looking for her one true love whose life didnt make sense until she met the man who was absolutely perfect for her and then they lived happily ever after. What those movies didnt show me, however, was how real life romance is actually like. You dont just meet the man or woman of your dreams in the first couple steps you take outside. Love is a journey that can take many years and some people take a lifetime to find their true love. The messages that are being sent in those movies and many other forms of mass media are influencing the way people view romantic relationships and relational qualities. Romantic relationships have been something that has been a part of the human race since Adam and Eve and the beginning of time. How we form these relationships and that values that go into creating these relationships are influenced by how they are shown to us through mass media. With romantically themed television shows and other relationships portrayed to audiences in movies and books, the population can see many examples of what being in a successful relationship looks like. These depictions are used as tools in creating and maintaining the romantic relationships we create in real life. Mass media is a powerful tool used to gain influence over many things that their audiences do from buying certain products to feeling certain emotions. Its effect over how we create, view, and maintain romantic relationships is no different.

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Literature Review The question that needs to be answered is, is there a positive relationship between the relationships portrayed in mass media and how people view actual relationships and romance. This question will attempt to be answered through the research being discussed and has already been answered by other researchers who have investigated similar topics looking at how these ideals are formed and then carried out. Most people develop their views on relationships when they are young through either

their parents or watching movies and television centered on a happily ever after. (Segrin & Nabi, 2002) So the mass media may not be to blame for the current ideals held, but it does perpetuate the ideals that have already been formed. Both that audience and the media are responsible for the messages that are being shown through the media and processed through the audience (Raelene, 2003). All one has to do is look at the type of mass media that is being shown today. Researchers list, . . . mass media influences as a significant source of romanticized and idealized views of marriage. (Segrin & Nabi, 2002, p. 248) Movies like Twilight perpetuate the need to know what the other person is doing at all times. Shows like The Bachelor give girls ideas that romance needs to be formed in big, extravagant dates. All of these ideals are being drummed into people without them even realizing that it is happening and they continue to watch these types of media increasingly. Today, young people spend more time with television than any other form of media (Eyal, Kunkel, Biely & Finnerty, 2007), which is why so many researchers decided to study the effect that mass media has on relationship ideals and values that people hold.

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Falling in love is the motivation for relationships. In every form of media, falling in love and then out of love, and then back in again all in the search of that one true love is present. Researchers have distinguished true love from that of just lust by one distinctive trait, the romantic love is always the culmination of a difficult journey, and must be earned and proved, usually by enduring the pain of actual of potential separation. (Raelene, 2003, p. 377) Searching for that all-consuming love for another person is what most people strive for today, and with the messages sent through the media, that level of perfection is sometimes never reached. Reality romance is something that audiences are being shown in many facets of the media. Reality shows that focus on romance, like The Bachelor, show a couple going on an extravagant date that boosts up the romance and downplays an awkwardness that may occur. Because of these unrealistic types of dating activities, many couples brought together through reality television, dont make it. Some however do. These couples credit some of the reality that they were able to find in small moments off air as a way to bring them together (Wang, Rizzo & Messer 2011). So the relational values that brought these couples together are not the ones that are being shown in the media. Relational values are not the only thing being highlighted in the media. Take the movie Twilight for example. The story is about a human falling in love with a vampire whose description is as near to perfect as an individual could get. Because of the vampirism shown in the movies, teenagers are now biting each other, sometimes even drawing blood, in order to show their significant other how much they care about them (Chang, Clarke, & Pereira, 2010). Based on the research literature present, most people think that this is an area still in need of more research. The young population of today is bombarded with so many different types of

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS media that the effect it has on them has to be studied. Relationships are one of the most prominent things found in television shows geared towards the younger generation. Such an

importance is placed on finding the right person to spend your life with and along with that there are not so subtle indicators of what it takes to be a perfect companion. From how you act, dress, and even look is taken into account as relational values. Dimensions present in all the studies show that the influence that mass media has over relational values lie in gender and perceived reality of television. Gender: In the studies, it was shown that females were more likely to respond to and be influenced by mass media portrayals of relationships. In a study done, it shows that girls respond more to a males personality while males respond more to a females looks, perpetrated through various media portrayals. Because women are more likely to watch romantically themed television, they are more likely to buy into the gender roles that are perpetuated through mass media. These shows reinforce stereotypical gender roles wherein men are only interested in sex and women are only seen as sexual objects (Vandebosch & Eggermont, 2011). Women who are thin and beautiful are more likely to end up with the man of their dreams, while men who have a kind and sweet personality always end up with their ideal woman. Eggermont (2004) showed that females ranked personality higher than physical attractiveness whereas males ranked them oppositely. Rivadeneyra (2008) found that the male role in a relationship is to be the initiator and that the female role is to be reacting to the initiating that is being done by the males (2008). . . . [P]articipants perception of the realism of television is also related to holding more traditional gender role attitudes . . . . (Rivadeneyra,

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

2008, p. 294) The results of these studies show that the gender roles wherein males are dominant and women are submissive are becoming the norm. Perceived Realism: In the same study done by Rivadeneyra, the perceived realism of television by the participants was also measured. They were asked questions about how much they could identify with the characters they see in the media. Realism has been a significant determinant in social judgments. Therefore . . . mass media would be more likely used as sources of ideas about romantic relationships if seen as realistic. . . . (Westman, Lynch, Lewandowski, and HuntCarter, 2003, p. 1116) It has been shown that the more people watch television and other forms of media, the more they perceive the situations presented to them as realistic (Segrin & Nabi, 2002). However, the situations that are presented are never fully couple communication. According to Fitzpatrick (1991), the dialogue present is not couple interaction, rather just talking about marriages, families, and love. Most relationships shown in mass media are shells of what a relationship consists of. There is everything on the surface, passion, love, and romance, but none of the interaction that goes on in a real couple. Romantic relationships portrayed in mass media are powerful in influencing but not accurate in describing the relational views it presents (Galician, 2004). Mass media relationships show idealized views of what marriage and relationships are. They show a lot of physical intimacy, celebration, happiness, and the all-important love at first sight, and minimize conflicts and issues that come along with being with another person (Segrin & Nabi, 2002). This sends a message to the audience that if a relationship has any conflict or issues, than it is not perfect and because of this, audiences may decide to end a relationship based off of one argument that happens naturally.

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Methodology The method I chose for this research is surveying a sample and then, from that sample,

systematically choosing participants to take part in a focus group. The surveys will be completed by up to 150 college students and from that sample, there will be five focus groups consisting of ten people. Many other studies in this field have done surveys and questionnaires to high school and college students between the ages of 14-30. That target population provides researchers with the most information because the mass media that has romantic relationships at the center of them target this age population. The focus groups will be a new thing. I think that they are important because it allows people to actually talk about their thoughts and feelings instead of just marking on a sheet how much they participate in any form of mass media. The qualitative data that is collected from these focus groups will provide a better insight into how the media affects views on relationships. The focus groups will be kept small so the data analysis can be done in a timely manner. College students will be used rather than high school students because college students are becoming more serious about finding a companion for the rest of their lives. Marriage and relationships arent really something that pertains to high school students; therefore, college students will be a better source of information for this research. In order for the sample to be varied in men and women, relational status, and ideals, the sample must be random. To achieve this, the survey will be handed to people in a popular location. On Slippery Rock Universitys campus, for instance, stations would be set up at the Robert M. Smith Student Center, Boozel Dining Hall, and Weisenfluh Dining Hall in order to get a good mix of people. An incentive of a stress ball or pen will be given to people after they fill out the questionnaire.

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS The questionnaire will consist of twenty-three questions about age, gender, relationship status, mass media viewing behaviors (i.e. television, films, and books), types of media viewed, and their ideals on relationships. Participants will also need to provide a phone number and e-

mail address in order to contact them for the focus groups that will take place at a later date. An informed consent form will be signed before the participants fill out the questionnaire explaining the research being done and also the chance that the participant may or may not be contacted to participate in a focus group which will be held two weeks after the surveys have been completed. The consent form will also explain the anonymity that will accompany the information they provide on the questionnaires. In order to contact them for focus groups, their names will be used at first, but when the research is concluded, all information pertaining to participants will be kept in a locked file and the participants will not be identified by name in any presentation or paper. By signing the consent form, the participants are agreeing to participate in the focus group if they are chosen. The consent form and the questionnaire will then be stapled together, three-hole punched and kept in a binder to keep them organized. The focus groups will have ten questions centered more on relational beliefs and how mass media has affected those beliefs. Open discussion will be allowed and encouraged in order to get a better understanding of these beliefs. Researchers present at the groups will take notes and the discussions will also be recorded in order to pick up any comments or conversations were missed in the researchers notes. At the conclusion of the focus group, participants will be asked to fill out the Relational Values part of the questionnaire again. Participants in the focus groups will be asked to fill out another consent form similar to the one filled out for the questionnaires. It will inform participants again about the research being done and also that the answers and discussions that take place in the groups will be used in presentations and papers

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS about the research. Participants will not have to provide any identifying attributes like name,

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phone number, or e-mail. They will only be asked to identify their gender before the focus group discussion starts. The notes and recordings of the focus groups will be kept in locked file along with the questionnaires, ensuring anonymity. The consent forms and questionnaires from the previous part of the research will be present at the focus group and after the completion of the second questionnaire, both consent forms and questionnaires will be stapled, three-hold punched, and kept in a binder. An incentive will also be given to those who participate in the focus groups. There will be a drawing for five $10 gift certificates to Starbucks to thank them for their participation. The people who dont receive the $10 gift certificate will be given a Slippery Rock University lanyard. The participants in this study will not experience any harm from the questions being asked or as a result of their participation. If participants do have any emotional or psychological responses to the study, they will be no more than the responses they would experience in any routine psychological test. Data Analysis The quantitative data collected from the surveys will be reviewed and catalogued by the research team into a Microsoft Excel file. Tallies will be kept of the responses. The data collected will then be used to makes charts and graphs comparing the results of the questionnaires before the focus group and then after to see if talking about romances in the media affected their outlook.

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS The notes and recordings of the focus groups will be transcribed into Microsoft Word

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files. The data collected will then be read over by the research team and trends will be examined as well as any themes that are present. All the results will then be analyzed based on gender, relationship status, age, and mass media behavior. The results will be graphed in order to see how these parameters generate different trends or rate of influence. Based on the inherent difference between men and women, I expect there to be a difference in relational values and rate of influence with this parameter. I also think that age will be another parameter that will provide differences. I expect the results of this study to show a positive trend between the effects of portrayed relationships in mass media and relational views held in real life. The qualitative data generated in the focus groups will be very insightful into how the public actually perceives the relationships shown on the media. With the addition of the qualitative data, I think the positive trend will become even stronger than it would be if there was just quantitative data. These results will confirm the research that has previously been done by showing the relationship between mass media and its effect on relationship views, beliefs, and outlooks. I think that the results from the second questionnaire given after the focus group will show a decrease in the level of influence mass media has because people will be able to talk about their relational values in comparison to others views. I think that this will allow people to see what they should be looking for in a relationship rather than what the media tells them to look for in relationships. Conclusion In conclusion, it is clear that more research needs done in order to see if these changes in relational values are happening because of the present media or if it is because of different values

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS learned during childhood. Even though qualitative data takes longer to log and analyze, it is a very important factor in gaining insight into the publics view of relationships portrayed in the media. Instead of just mindlessly marking down answers on a questionnaire, participants are asked to give their thoughts and feelings, which is much more valuable.

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Future researchers can also look more closely at the type of media that the population is viewing. The researchers could pull together a sample of the population who views romantic genres of media more than the other types. This will give a more in depth look at how much the media can affect relational views. It will also give researchers a better look at what type of audience each genre of mass media is targeting by gender, age, and/or socioeconomic status. The research that is already done, however, shows a positive relationship between media viewing and its effect on interpersonal relationships. This research could help determine why so many marriages end in divorce or the reasons people have for entering relationships in the first place. The research can also be used to help change the way people look at relationships based on their mass media experience. By changing the types of relationships shown in the media, the publics perception will also change to reflect the values presented to them. The research done in this experiment shows that relational views held by the population is affected by the portrayals of relationships that exist in the mass media. Adding in the qualitative data will give this research a different stance on mass medias influence on relationships than the previous research that has been done. Mass media is too present in our lives for it not to have an effect on our romantic relationships, whether it be the ones we already have or the ones that we have yet to make. By using this research as a basis for other experiments, more can be learned about mass medias influence on the public and how people interpret the messages that are being shown to them.

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Appendix A

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Department of Communication CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH The Effects of Portrayed Romantic Relationships in Mass Media on Romantic Relationships Megan Guerrieri Communication Student (717) 574-8419 Purpose of the study The purpose of this research is to study the effects mass media portrayals of romantic relationships have on the romantic relationships people form in real life. The study will be based on your age, gender, relationship status, mass media viewing behaviors (i.e. television, films, and books), types of media viewed, and your ideals on romantic relationships. Your participation is voluntary. If you choose to participate, you may withdraw from the study at any time and no one will hold it against you. Participation in the study will not affect your grades or standing in the Communication Department at Slippery Rock University. In addition, your participation in the study may be terminated without your consent if the investigators determine it is unsafe for you to continue or you are not able to complete the research. Procedures If you choose to participate in this research, you will complete a questionnaire now and receive either a stress ball or a pen to thank you for participating in the first step Initials ___________

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS of this study. In the questionnaire, you will be asked to provide a phone number

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and/or e-mail address that will assist in the second phase of the study. If chosen, you will participate in a focus group made of ten people which will occur within two to three weeks after you complete this questionnaire. There will be five focus groups consisting of 50 people. At the conclusion of the focus groups, you will be asked to fill out the second part of the questionnaire again. These focus groups will continue in the investigation of mass media influence over romantic relationships through a series of questions. Another incentive will be given at the focus group including a drawing for five $10 gift certificates to Starbucks and those who do not receive the gift card will receive a Slippery Rock University lanyard. By signing this consent form, you are agreeing to participate in both parts of the study. Confidentiality The questionnaire you fill out today will be stapled to this consent form and put into a binder which will then be kept in an office in the Communication Department, which will be monitored at all times. A second consent form and questionnaire will be filled out after the focus group has concluded. This consent form and questionnaire will be added to the existing packet and will be kept in the same place. All identifying factors like name, e-mail, or phone number will be removed before the results are recorded in any way or presented in any presentation or paper. I, the researcher, will be the only person to have access to your name, e-mail, and phone number. Your confidentiality will be protected to the extent that is allowed by law. Initials ___________

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Risks/Benefits There are no perceived risks to participating in this study. The benefit to

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participating in this study is the incentives provided in the first phase and the second phase of the study. Another benefit of participating in this study is that you will be contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge in the mass media field of study. Sources of Information You will be given a copy of this consent form. Please ask any questions or voice any concerns you may have now or at any time during the study directly to Megan Guerrieri, the lead researcher of this study. If you have any questions about the research study, you should contact the researchers at the phone numbers listed at the top of this form. If you have questions about your rights as a participant in this study or the way the study has been conducted, you may contact the IRB office by telephone at (724) 738-4846 or by e-mail at irb@sru.edu. Authorization I have read and understand this consent form, and I volunteer to participate in this research study. I understand that I will receive a copy of this form. I voluntarily choose to participate, but I understand that my consent does not take away any legal rights in the case of negligence or other legal fault of anyone who is involved in this study. I further understand that nothing in this consent form is intended to replace any applicable Federal, state or local laws. Initials ___________

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS _________________________ Participant Name (Print) ___________________________________ Participant Name (Sign)

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__________________ Date

______________________________ ____________________________________ Investigator Name (Print) Investigator Name (Sign)

_______________________ Date

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Appendix B Please fill out the following questionnaire to the best of your ability:

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Name: ________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ( ) ____-__________ E-mail: _________________________________________ Gender: M or F Married Divorced

Age: ___________________ Relationship Status: Single

In a Relationship

Mass Media Viewing Behavior How often do you: Go to the movies: Frequently Watch television: Frequently Read books: Frequently Often Sometimes Never Often Sometimes Never Often Sometimes Never

What type of movies do you usually see: (May check more than one box) Comedy Action Drama Horror Romance Sci-Fi

What type of television do you usually watch: (May check more than one box) Sitcoms Crime Drama Reality Soap Operas Cartoons

What type of books do you usually read: (May check more than one box) Fantasy Romance Biography Mystery Comedy

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Relational Views* Your perfect partner is cosmically predestined, so nothing/nobody can ultimately separate you. True False Theres such a thing as love at first sight. True False

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Your soul mate should KNOW what youre thinking/feeling without you having to tell them. True False

If your partner is truly meant for you, sex is easy and wonderful. True False

The man should NOT be shorter, weaker, younger, poorer, or less successful than the woman. True False

The love of a good and faithful woman can change a man from a beast into a prince. True False

Bickering and fighting a lot means that a couple is not meant to be together. True False

The relationships portrayed in the media can be equated to real life relationships. True False

The right mate completes youfilling your needs and making your dreams come true. True False

In real life, actors and actresses are often very much like the romantic characters they portray. True False

Since mass media portrayals of romance arent real, they dont really affect you. True
*As taken from Galician (2004)

False

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Appendix C

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Department of Communication CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH The Effects of Portrayed Romantic Relationships in Mass Media on Romantic Relationships Megan Guerrieri Communication Student (717) 574-8419 Purpose of the study The purpose of this research is to study the effects mass media portrayals of romantic relationships have on the romantic relationships people form in real life. The study will be based on your age, gender, relationship status, mass media viewing behaviors (i.e. television, films, and books), types of media viewed, and your ideals on romantic relationships. Your participation is voluntary. If you choose to participate, you may withdraw from the study at any time and no one will hold it against you. Participation in the study will not affect your grades or standing in the Communication Department at Slippery Rock University. In addition, your participation in the study may be terminated without your consent if the investigators determine it is unsafe for you to continue or you are not able to complete the research. Procedures If you choose to participate in this research, you will complete a questionnaire now and receive either a stress ball or a pen to thank you for participating in the first step Initials ___________

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS of this study. In the questionnaire, you will be asked to provide a phone number

20

and/or e-mail address that will assist in the second phase of the study. If chosen, you will participate in a focus group made of ten people which will occur within two to three weeks after you complete this questionnaire. There will be five focus groups consisting of 50 people. At the conclusion of the focus groups, you will be asked to fill out the second part of the questionnaire again. These focus groups will continue in the investigation of mass media influence over romantic relationships through a series of questions. Another incentive will be given at the focus group including a drawing for five $10 gift certificates to Starbucks and those who do not receive the gift card will receive a Slippery Rock University lanyard. By signing this consent form, you are agreeing to participate in both parts of the study. Confidentiality The questionnaire you fill out today will be stapled to this consent form and put into a binder which will then be kept in an office in the Communication Department, which will be monitored at all times. A second consent form and questionnaire will be filled out after the focus group has concluded. This consent form and questionnaire will be added to the existing packet and will be kept in the same place. All identifying factors like name, e-mail, or phone number will be removed before the results are recorded in any way or presented in any presentation or paper. I, the researcher, will be the only person to have access to your name, e-mail, and phone number. Your confidentiality will be protected to the extent that is allowed by law. Initials ___________

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Risks/Benefits There are no perceived risks to participating in this study. The benefit to

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participating in this study is the incentives provided in the first phase and the second phase of the study. Another benefit of participating in this study is that you will be contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge in the mass media field of study. Sources of Information You will be given a copy of this consent form. Please ask any questions or voice any concerns you may have now or at any time during the study directly to Megan Guerrieri, the lead researcher of this study. If you have any questions about the research study, you should contact the researchers at the phone numbers listed at the top of this form. If you have questions about your rights as a participant in this study or the way the study has been conducted, you may contact the IRB office by telephone at (724) 738-4846 or by e-mail at irb@sru.edu. Authorization I have read and understand this consent form, and I volunteer to participate in this research study. I understand that I will receive a copy of this form. I voluntarily choose to participate, but I understand that my consent does not take away any legal rights in the case of negligence or other legal fault of anyone who is involved in this study. I further understand that nothing in this consent form is intended to replace any applicable Federal, state or local laws. Initials ___________

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS _________________________ Participant Name (Print) ___________________________________ Participant Name (Sign)

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__________________ Date

______________________________ ____________________________________ Investigator Name (Print) Investigator Name (Sign)

_______________________ Date

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Appendix D 1. What about mass media attracts you to the different genres it provides? 2. Does one genre attract you more than the other? 3. Do you choose one genre of mass media over the other based on the values/principles it presents?

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4. How often do you interact with mass media that portrays a romantic relationship in some way? 5. Do you think that mass media portrays romantic relationships in a positive or negative light? 6. What values do you think mass media shows to its audience pertaining to romantic relationships? 7. How realistic do you think the romantic relationships portrayed in the media are? 8. Do you think that the romantic relationships portrayed in mass media are depictions of the perfect relationship? 9. How do the romantic relationships depicted in mass media affect your own personal romantic relationships? 10. Do you think that people take the relational values portrayed in the mass media and apply them to their own personal romantic relationships?

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS Appendix E Relational Views* Your perfect partner is cosmically predestined, so nothing/nobody can ultimately separate you. True False Theres such a thing as love at first sight. True False

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Your soul mate should KNOW what youre thinking/feeling without you having to tell them. True False

If your partner is truly meant for you, sex is easy and wonderful. True False

The man should NOT be shorter, weaker, younger, poorer, or less successful than the woman. True False

The love of a good and faithful woman can change a man from a beast into a prince. True False

Bickering and fighting a lot means that a couple is not meant to be together. True False

The relationships portrayed in the media can be equated to real life relationships. True False

The right mate completes youfilling your needs and making your dreams come true. True False

In real life, actors and actresses are often very much like the romantic characters they portray. True False

Since mass media portrayals of romance arent real, they dont really affect you. True False

*As taken from Galician (2004)

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS References Chang, J., Clarke, S., & Pereira, J. (2010, July 09). "Twilight" effect: Are teens biting one another because of on-screen vampires?. Good morning america. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/twilight-movie-effect-teens-biting-vampirefascination/story?id=11122324

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Eggermont, S. (2004). Television viewing, perceived similarity and adolescents' expectations of a romantic partner. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 48, 244-265. Eyal, K., Kunkel, D., Biely, E. N., & Finnerty, K. L. (2007). Sexual socialization messages on television programs most popular among teens. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 51(2), 316-336. doi: 10.1080/08838150701304969 Fitzpatrick, M. A. (1991). Understanding personal relationships through media portrayals. Communication Education, 40(2), 213. Galician, M. (2004). Sex, love, and romance in the mass media: Analysis and criticism of unrealistic portrayals and their influence. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Raelene, W. (2003). Romantic Love and 'Getting Married': Narratives of the Wedding in and Out of Cinema Texts. Journal Of Sociology, 39(4), 373-389. Rivadeneyra, R., & Lebo, M. J. (2008). The association between television-viewing behaviors and adolescent dating role attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Adolescence, 31, 291-305. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2007.06.001 Segrin, C., & Nabi, R. L. (2002). Does television viewing cultivate unrealistic expectations about marriage? Journal of Communication, 52, 247-263. Vandenbosch, L., & Eggermont, S. (2011). Temptation island, the bachelor, joe millionaire: A prospective cohort study on the role of romantically themed reality television in

THE EFFECTS OF PORTRAYED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS adolescents' sexual development. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 55(4), 563-580. doi: 10.1080/08838151.2011.620663 Wang, C., Rizzo, M., & Messer, L. (2011). Reality romances that worked! People, 76(10), 9298.

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Westman, A. S., Lynch, T. J., Lewandowski, L., & Hunt-Carter, E. (2003). Students' use of mass media for ideas about romantic relationships was influenced by perceived realism of presentations and parental happiness. Psychological Reports, 92(3), 1116.