Does Television Portrayal of Couples having Sex Reflect Real Life Statistics?

Many television programs and movies typically show couples having sex. The amount of sex that people are having on TV is fairly similar to real life statistics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) married couples typically have sex at least once a week and single people have at least two sexual encounters a month. When a person sees a television program showing sexual encounters they typically happen within a short amount of time that people are getting to know each other. The same is also true for many people who are having sex out in society.

Television and real life sexual encounters can also differ. A lot of times many people will not just have sex with complete strangers or with people they barely even know. In today’s world sexual practices such as masturbation are becoming a social standard and many people turn to this type of sexual activity in lieu of promiscuous behavior.

When couples are shown having sex in a program, it often gives people the impression that they are having this dynamic sexually stimulating experience. Once again, TV does not reflect real life. Most people who do have sex (unless they are married or are consistent sex partners) typically do not have a mind blowing sexual encounter. Most of them typically perform their sexual routine in an awkward and uncomfortable manner, even if alcohol or some other type of drug is involved. While it is true that TV shows and movies portray sexual encounters in a fairly realistic way, they rarely show how complicated and uneventful sexual encounters can be for a lot of individuals.

This and many other discoveries were made by Leo Burnett, through "Humans Being Relationships", which is an interactive, online platform that provides cultural analysis, expert interviews, research findings as well as intimate conversations with real people on the state of relationships in 2014.

Disclosure: This post was requested by an advertiser.