Social Learning Theory is the idea that viewers mimic behaviors, styles, actions, etc. that they see in the media. This blog post will explain in depth the idea behind the theory of social learning as well as provide a horrifying example said to be linked to the popularization of teenage pregnancies.
The concept of the Social Learning Theory is in its simplest terms the idea that the target audiences of different media will slowly start to imitate the behavior portrayed in these media. This theory is proven daily on a basic level of what is seen as “fashionable.” New trends catch on all the time because young girls saw a celebrity pictured in a similar outfit on a magazine cover or web blog. Although media influencing what people wear might seem miniscule in importance, many people are worried about what this theory entails on a larger scale, in terms of actual actions and behaviors. In essence the theory states that viewers will start to intimidate the attitudes and behaviors that they view on their favorite television shows and movies.
Currently many parents are worried about the messages being sent to young girls through today’s more popular television shows. Shows such as MTVs “Teen Mom,” and ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” have been said to be linked to the sudden rise in teenage pregnancies in the United States. These television shows revolve around the topic of teenage pregnancy and have been accused of popularizing the idea of being a teenage mother. The reality show “Teen Mom” gives young girls the idea that they can get famous by having a baby, and shows like the popular “Secret Life” give girls the false pretense that there lives can carry on like normal after having a baby. “Teen Mom” spreads an idea that if you want your boyfriend to stick around all you have to do is get pregnant (last scene of the clip I attached). The main character in “Secret Life” has two boys vying for her love and attention, and other girls jealous of her and her situation. Her sister even cries in one scene wishing that the boy’s father loved her and states that he would if she had gotten pregnant by him instead of her sister. It is all a very twisted reality because in the real world many guys would run for the hills instead of stick around. Staying in school as a teenage mom is in reality extremely difficult, but shows make it seem like a cake walk because the parents are more than willing to watch the baby during the day. This twisted reality that shows portray has recently led to “Pregnancy pacts” by high school girls. The article I have attached is about a group of seventeen girls, all under the age of sixteen, that made a pact to get pregnant and raise there babies together. Sounds like fun right? These girls have through the social learning theory bought into these false realities of how cool and fun it is to have a kid as a teenage. They have in essence adopted the behaviors of the star characters of these television shows. I have attached a YouTube clip of a trailer for the show “Teen Mom” along with an article about a recent pregnancy pact made by seventeen girls at a high school in Massachusetts.
Teen Mom Trailer:
Article about High School pregnancy pact:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/pregnancy-pact-at-one-high-school-leads-to-17-soon-to-be-teen-moms-189557/
**For some reason the article link is not working, but if you copy and paste the URL into the search bar the article will come right up! Sorry for the inconvenience.**
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