Most people are affected by the messages they get from their social environment, including movies, books, music videos, and social media. Those messages can influence how they think about what is normal behavior between romantic partners, and even how to act when it comes to sexual interactions.
Many young people learn early that kissing and making out with someone who isn't your partner or having one night stands with random strangers is wrong. They also may believe that a good relationship involves being physically attractive and having an active sex life. In some cases, these ideas may be challenged by their own experiences.
Because of this learning process, people often form expectations about their relationships, which can shape how they behave in real life.
If someone believes that all women should be submissive and obedient, they might find themselves disappointed in a partner who doesn't live up to those standards. This could lead them to seek out new partners who do meet those expectations. The same applies for other things like body image or financial status. When people have unrealistic expectations about their relationships, they may become frustrated, angry, or feel like there's something wrong with them if they don't meet those standards. These feelings can create tension within a relationship and make it difficult to communicate effectively. That's why it's important to consider the messages we receive and critically evaluate them.
Media has been known to influence our perception of others as well. Many times we see depictions of characters who are beautiful, fit, and/or wealthy. We assume that we must look like those people to be desirable. This can result in us trying to change ourselves to match those ideals or feeling bad about our appearance. It can also impact how we view intimacy and what constitutes 'sexy'. If we watch too many movies where the female protagonist gets rescued by her man, we might start thinking that men need to take care of us in order for us to be happy. This can cause problems when we try to negotiate power dynamics in a relationship.
Media plays an integral role in shaping our views on sex and love. By understanding this, we can work towards breaking down stereotypes and redefining healthy boundaries.
How do relational expectations formed through media shape real-world emotional and sexual behaviors?
People who regularly watch movies and television shows with idealized romantic relationships are more likely to have unrealistic expectations about their future relationships and may experience disappointment when reality does not match up. This can lead to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression in individuals who feel they cannot live up to the expectations set by media representations of love and sex.