Are People Influenced By Soap Operas?
Soap Opera Digest ran a survey which found respondents admitting by "an overwhelming majority that they did get ideas about how to conduct their personal romances from watching the soaps and that they had at some point in their lives, dealt with the same kind of problems soap characters have had to deal with." (Spence 161)
Despite Soap Opera Digest's findings, the survey for this article found markedly different results. One explanation is that respondents might be more comfortable admitting that their "GUIDING LIGHT" in their relationships comes from soaps to Soap Opera Digest than they might be admitting it to another type of researcher.
Anecdotal evidence gathered during the research for this article did include a couple female survey takers who admitted that they were influenced by the soap operas in reference to their relationships. One woman said, "I was having an argument with my boyfriend and I said to him, 'Our relationship is nothing like the kind they have on soap operas.' As soon as I said that, I realized how ridiculous it sounded." The other woman reported that when analyzing a problem she was having with her boyfriend, she actively thought of how her favorite female soap character would approach the same problem.
One hundred percent of survey takers (for this article) of both genders chose disagree or strongly disagree when asked if sexual storylines on soap operas changed their attitudes toward sex in real life. Some researchers found that heavy and long-term viewing did not affect the viewers' attitudes except for those long-term viewers who did not attend church. "This subgroup of viewers receives a one-sided view of the marital and sexual activity of the outside world." (Frentz 14)
When asked if people learn values and attitudes about sex by watching soap operas, twenty percent of men and women agreed, while the rest were undecided or in disagreement. Ninety-five percent of all survey takers disagreed when asked if daytime dramas were a good way for people to learn sex education. Some media watchdogs want soaps to teach sex education responsibly. "TV soap operas have a part to play in the dissemination of information on sexual responsibility…Soap operas can earn respect for their contribution to the public on matters of vital concern. (Frentz 45) Bob Peters of the media watchdog group "Morality in the Media" put the same idea forward on the Maury Povich Show. (Povich 10/9/92) Apparently, soap opera viewers who responded to the original survey for this article were not of the same opinion.
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