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Here’s yet another reason to buy a DVR and fast-forward through ads.
New research conducted by a graduating senior at the University of New Hampshire shows that TV commercials influence what we want to do in our lives.
Sociology major Valerie Hooper studied over 1,500 commercials during a week’s worth of primetime viewing. Not too shockingly, men in the ads were more likely than women to be working outside the home. Very shockingly, only 2.1 percent of the ads showed men performing a domestic task, like – um — caring for their kids.
But even more interesting was audience reaction. Men viewing ads showing their peers in nontraditional roles were more likely to emphasize domestic goals in a discussion that followed. But if they only saw businessmen on TV, they later gave off a "Work is more important than family" vibe. (We’re paraphrasing.)
The results for women were not significant. Is this because we’re such good multi-taskers?
So here’s what we’d like to know. If adults are so influenced by images we see on TV, what’s the effect on kids? Are Bratz ads way more hazardous than previously thought?
Check out the UNH press release .
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