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

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. Demographics

6. 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 percent of the TV they watch is reality TV

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. Bachelor Perceptions

12. 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

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

15. KELSEY

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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

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

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

21. 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.