Reality TV and Romantic Perceptions Kelsey Gorman Kendra Schwarz Codi Mast Elyse Brigham Jacqui Dennis Jamelia Banks Cara Jeffers

Literature Review Social Cognitive Theory Not passive, but active Four Processes: Attention, Retention, Production, and Motivation Heavy Viewers more likely to perceive real world like TV Media encourages 3 sexual attitudes: Men are sex driven Women are sexual objects Dating is a game One study we looked at referenced the Social Cognitive Theory and recognized that people are not passive viewers, but cognizant consumers who reflect, regulate, and vicariously learn from material.

Research Questions and Hypotheses RQ1: Do television dating shows influence people’s perceptions on their own relationships? RQ2: What are the motives for viewing certain reality television shows? RQ3: Which shows attract more women and which shows attract more men? H1: Viewers of the Bachelor have a more life-long, romantic perception of relationships. H2: Viewers of Jersey Shore have a more short-term, superficial perception of relationships.

Survey Explained Chose to compare Jersey Shore and the Bachelor Used personal social media and email to distribute Demographics Watch Jersey Shore or Bachelor or Neither Threw out “Both”

Demographics

Demographics Summary of the rest Most of our respondents were either students or employed Almost all respondents said they watched 1-3 hours per day Almost all respondents said 1-25 percent of the TV they watch is reality TV

RQ1: Reality TV influence on dating perceptions Perceptions/ Characteristics used: Casual Sex Honesty Respect Physical Abuse Male Dominance Maturity PDA Sense of Humor Dating is a game Lust Intelligence Heavy use of alcohol Abstinence Seeking attention Use of contraception Infidelity Trust Future-oriented Emotional dependence Faith Financial matters Physical attraction Aggression Jealousy Commitment Sex driven Loyalty Emotional abuse Education Love

Jersey Shore Perceptions What are your perceptions of the behaviors and/or characteristics present in the show Jersey Shore? = Show What perceptions and/or characteristics are prevalent in your own personal dating life? = Personal What characteristics or behaviors do you believe represent general societal norms for dating? = Society

Jersey Shore Perceptions Lowly Perceived in personal dating life Highly Perceived in personal dating life

Bachelor Perceptions What are your perceptions of the behaviors and/or characteristics present in the show the Bachelor? = Show What perceptions and/or characteristics are prevalent in your own personal dating life? = Personal What characteristics or behaviors do you believe represent general societal norms for dating? = Society

Bachelor Perceptions

Non-watcher Perceptions What perceptions and/or characteristics are prevalent in your own personal dating life? = Personal What characteristics or behaviors do you believe represent general societal norms for dating? = Society

People who did not watch these shows generally have lower perceptions of traits portrayed in society

KELSEY

As you can see, most of the bars are equal for all three groups, therefore we did not find any direct correlation between perceptions in personal dating lives and the reality TV programming.

RQ2: What are the motives for viewing certain reality television shows? We also gave the options: Personal Fulfillment, self-belonging, self-understanding, and character ID

RQ3: Which shows attract more women and which shows attract more men? Male Responses Both Female Responses American Idol American Pickers 16 and Pregnant America's got Talent Bachelor/Bachelorette 19 Kids and Counting Auction Kings Dancing With the Stars Amazing Race Big Brother Survivor Basketball Wives Buckwild Teen Mom Biggest Loser Duck Dynasty The Apprentice Chopped Hell's Kitchen The Voice Cupcake Wars Iron Chef Ridiculousness Dance Moms Jersey Shore Dirty Jobs Pawn Stars Guilana and Bill Shipping Wars Storage Wars Hoarders Swamp People Honey Boo Boo The Challenge Kardashians The X-Factor Love & Hip Hop Top Chef Master Chef Worst Cooks in America Millionaire Matchmaker Project Runway Real Housewives Real World Say Yes to the Dress So You Think You Can Dance The Little Couple Wife Swap RQ3: Which shows attract more women and which shows attract more men? No definitive results

H1: Viewers of the Bachelor have a more life-long, romantic perception of relationships.

H2: Viewers of Jersey Shore have a more short-term, superficial perception of relationships.

Discussion/ Conclusion Wider range of demographics Question design People generally have more positive perceptions of their own personal dating life than those of reality TV programming and society. People who watch reality TV programming are more likely to have positive perceptions of societal dating norms.