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Show Movie survey finds sex currently high "Psychologists have for years demonstrated, for example, that youjcan overcome a person's fear of snakes by gradually exposing him to others who casually play with snakes," says Dr. Victor B. Cline, professor of psychology. "By making violence appear glamorous and exciting and illicit sex normal and desirable, these media are setting the stage for a society based on aggression and irresponsibility." Dr. Cline and four research assistants conducted a survey of theater fare during a one-week period in metropolitan Salt Lake City. They attended 37 motion pictures-16 percent rated "X", 24 percent rated "R", 46 percent rated "PG" and 14 percent rated "G". 833 aggressive acts and 566 sexual acts or displays were contained in the 37 films. Dr. Cline points out that the increase in sex and violence in the media can be related to an increasingly violence-oriented society. Dr. Cline believes that the media in some cases may play a more important role than the church, school or home. Dr. Cline's research team also analyzed the films' intent, themes, plots, values and behavior of heroes. Nearly two-thirds two-thirds of the movies took a fatalistic view of life and human destiny. 22 percent of the protagonists were killed or in some way destroyed. In 57 percent of the films, dishonesty was "justified" and in 38 percent criminal activity was made to "pay off." Heroes were lawbreakers or anti-social characters in 43 percent of the movies. As to what can be done about the increase of sex and violence in films, Dr. Cline says, "In a free society you cannot directly censor the media, nor can you legislate controls. But through lack of patronage of certain types of films and TV shows, the public can sensitize media producers to the problem and urge reform." |