Look What I Learned at the Movies Mom!

The concept of social learning is instrumental in understanding how films like Juno and it’s handling of teenage pregnancy can potentially lead to negative societal impacts.

Social learning at it most basic level is the act of observational learning on behalf of a viewer of media. When a viewer watches a piece of media, a movie or television show for example, they can absorb some of the ideas and value systems presented in that media and begin to imitate what they have just seen. The issue with social learning arises when the hyper-fantasized worlds portrayed in media influence viewers in ways that would be unacceptable in reality. Through social learning, people can develop value sets like the idea that men have to be extremely manly or even violent to be successful, or that women have to meet some crazy perfect body type to be considered beautiful. Of course, imitating these in reality is not always ideal.

The 2007 film Juno (trailer), directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody, deals with the issue of character Juno facing high school being a single, pregnant teen. As a comedy, the movie never really places too harsh of implications on Juno for her situation, something that probably would occur in reality. Due to this, social learning could occur through the film teaching teens that being single and pregnant can be almost entertaining and have few if any consequences. In 2008, at least 17 teens at Gloucester High School (right) in Massachusetts were pregnant by the summer. Apparently, these girls had entered into a pregnancy pact that could have come from watching movies like Juno that portray teen pregnancy with very few consequences when in reality the consequences are life altering, something that the movie seems to skip over. The power of social learning can turn a simple comedy film into a national controversy that shook America.

Overall, social learning has the power to turn media from entertainment into life teachings for viewers. The question arises, if viewers are known to imitate media, should the media be more careful as to what is shown?