Do Extraversion and Impulsivity Moderate the Effect of Sexual Media Exposure on Adolescents’ Sexual Stereotypes

Abstract

Abstract Although previous research has documented a relationship between sexual media exposure and sexual stereotyping, it is not known whether and how personality factors moderate this relationship. In this experimental study (N = 90) I examined 1) whether there is a difference in sexual stereotypes of adolescents who watched neutral versus sexual clips and 2) whether extraversion and impulsivity have a moderating effect on this relationship. Results from Repeated Measures ANOVA’s show no causal effect of exposure to sexual video clips on sexual stereotypes of adolescents. Furthermore, extraversion and impulsivity do not moderate this relationship. For future research I recommend to measure whether certain personality types (undercontrol, overcontrol and ego-resilience), instead of individual personality traits, have a moderating effect on the relationship between exposure to sexual media and sexual stereotypes.