Media and Occupational Aspirations: The Effect of Television on Career Aspirations of Adolescents

Gehrau Volker, Brüggemann Tim, Handrup Jutta

Abstract

Vocational decisions are important decisions for adolescents. This article takestelevision effects into account. A literature review for the occupational world inTV programs reveals a strong focus on some occupations as well as smallcultivation effects plus learning effects from mediated role models. A secondaryanalysis of 2 panel waves was undertaken to study the effect of media rolemodels on occupational aspiration. Television usage in a program segmentcorrelated with corresponding aspirations. A process models showed a strongeffect of career aspiration in 1 panel wave on related television usage andcareer aspirations in the following panel wave.