The Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel

The 'herding' instinct

As in possibly no other activity, in our sexual behaviour we strive to be normal and a good deal of anxiety is triggered by the thought that we might not be so. But what is normal?

Since sexual behaviour is conducted in private, we have no way of knowing what others are doing except from their own reports. Hence the avid attention paid to sex surveys. The problem then becomes, which reports to rely on for our notion of average. There is a considerable difference in the rates reported in the scientific random sample surveys and those culled from magazine surveys based on volunteer samples. The British sexual behaviour survey showed that just over a quarter of boys and one in five girls aged 16 to 24 have sex before the age of 16. Magazines present far higher incidence figures than these. The March 1996 issue of Sugar contained a 16 page booklet entitled 'Sex and You' in which it was reported that 52 per cent of respondents had lost their virginity before the age of 16. A sex survey among its readers in Bliss showed that 82 per cent of under 16 year old readers had had intercourse.

The findings from these surveys using self-selected volunteer samples are not representative of young people as a whole. Readers of Sugar and Bliss are not typical of the global teenage population, and those who respond to questionnaires within the magazine are even less so, being not even typical of readers in general. Readers who feel inclined to voluntarily disclose details of their personal lives are different from those who do not. The bias is likely to be towards the more sexually active. But in the absence of any other evidence, these figures could come to represent the prevailing peer group norm.

Such coverage is likely to be self-fulfilling. The herding instinct is exaggerated in the teenage years when conformity to a group norm and identity is particularly important. Kent & Davis (1992) note anxiety about remaining a virgin longer than others:

Was there any pressure from your friends to lose your virginity?

Um... Yeah

What sort of thing would they say?

Oh you know, "God, you're really old" and you know they'd been sort of doing it since they were about 14

So how did you feel?

"I felt a real square and prude and thought I'd put a stop to it. But I got a terrible reputation after being with him, so I went from being a prude to being a real slag."
(19 year old woman, 16 at the time. Kent & Davis, 1993)

"The first time I had sex I didn't use anything because it was me at 17 and the only virgin in my class and I thought I was the last person in the world that has never had it. And so the opportunity came along and it was just 'Whatever she's got I can't resist it'."
(Young man interviewed by Kent & Davis)

TMAP Research - Role of Teen Magazines in the Sexual Health of Young People

The Luff Bill

Age rating

Editorial balance

Encouraging early activity

'Herding' instinct

Is early sexual activity bad?

Arguements for delaying intercourse

Contraception

Educational role of magazines

Preferred sources of information



			The 'herding' instinct As in possibly no other activity, in our sexual behaviour we strive to be normal and a good deal of anxiety is triggered by the thought that we might not be so. But what is normal? Since sexual behaviour is conducted in private, we have no way of knowing what others are doing except from their own reports. Hence the avid attention paid to sex surveys. The problem then becomes, which reports to rely on for our notion of average. There is a considerable difference in the rates reported in the scientific random sample surveys and those culled from magazine surveys based on volunteer samples. The British sexual behaviour survey showed that just over a quarter of boys and one in five girls aged 16 to 24 have sex before the age of 16. Magazines present far higher incidence figures than these. The March 1996 issue of Sugar contained a 16 page booklet entitled 'Sex and You' in which it was reported that 52 per cent of respondents had lost their virginity before the age of 16. A sex survey among its readers in Bliss showed that 82 per cent of under 16 year old readers had had intercourse. The findings from these surveys using self-selected volunteer samples are not representative of young people as a whole. Readers of Sugar and Bliss are not typical of the global teenage population, and those who respond to questionnaires within the magazine are even less so, being not even typical of readers in general. Readers who feel inclined to voluntarily disclose details of their personal lives are different from those who do not. The bias is likely to be towards the more sexually active. But in the absence of any other evidence, these figures could come to represent the prevailing peer group norm. Such coverage is likely to be self-fulfilling. The herding instinct is exaggerated in the teenage years when conformity to a group norm and identity is particularly important. Kent & Davis (1992) note anxiety about remaining a virgin longer than others: Was there any pressure from your friends to lose your virginity? Um... Yeah What sort of thing would they say? Oh you know, "God, you're really old" and you know they'd been sort of doing it since they were about 14 So how did you feel? "I felt a real square and prude and thought I'd put a stop to it. But I got a terrible reputation after being with him, so I went from being a prude to being a real slag." (19 year old woman, 16 at the time. Kent & Davis, 1993) "The first time I had sex I didn't use anything because it was me at 17 and the only virgin in my class and I thought I was the last person in the world that has never had it. And so the opportunity came along and it was just 'Whatever she's got I can't resist it'." (Young man interviewed by Kent & Davis)
	Home News Position statement How to complain Adjudications Annual reports Events Guidelines Research TMAP Research - Role of Teen Magazines in the Sexual Health of Young People The Luff Bill Age rating Editorial balance Encouraging early activity 'Herding' instinct Is early sexual activity bad? Arguements for delaying intercourse Contraception Educational role of magazines Preferred sources of information Empowerment of women The 'dream' ticket Safer sex Conclusions The panel Useful links
	Contact: Kerry Neilson , TMAP secretariat, kerry.neilson@ppa.co.uk, 0207 400 7520

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