Analyzing Sandra Czaja's 'Pop Star Psychology'

“Pop Star Psychology” by Sandra Czaja Scientific American Mind July/August 2011 Sean Copeland September 7,2011 Article 1

In “Pop Star Psychology”, author Sandra Czaja discusses how tv, film, and teen idols can affect children and teenagers in
The Kaiser Family Foundation reports show that almost two thirds of all television shows air overtly sexual material. Studies show that being exposed to drug use, sex or violence onscreen can make them more acceptable in reality. In 2002 Madeline A. Dalton and her colleagues at Dartmouth Medical School analyzed R-rated films and their influence in connection with children, the media and risky behaviors. Surveys were conducted on about 4,500 students, ages 10 to 14. Data was collected on many factors influencing their lives (parenting characteristics, school performances, and general rebelliousness.) In this study they found 35 percent of the teens watching r-rated films had smoked and 46 percent tried alcohol. The teens that didn’t watch r-rated films were at one third the risk of smoking and drinking with all factors accounted