The Programming of America, Pt 5, Sex and Violence Sell

A major recurrent theme in the programming of people is the constant onslaught of sex and violence in media. From prime time television to YouTube videos to cable to movies to anything you can name. Print, video, static images, song lyrics, books all sell themselves too often based on the most primal human instincts.

The reason for this is simple. Sex and violence incite responses which are indeed primal. People focusing on what are nothing more than hormonal impulses have the tendency to cease thinking critically. This is historically especially true of men but is just as true of women today.

However, this concept can be expanded to include anything emotional. From tear-jerking stories meant to provoke empathy to cutesy advertising featuring puppies, kittens, pandas or sloths.

Once your emotions are engaged, most people never get past the immediate emotional response. If you are able to overcome that emotional reaction, chances are you will be labeled. Cold, mean, frigid, cowardly, weak. Thus, even those able to overcome the emotional influence may not vocalize the fact openly for fear of being ostracized in some way, leaving them rejected, isolated, their humanity or simply attractiveness degraded, judged, considered “less than”.

We live in a society where men who are violent are considered “manly”. Gun or sword fights are “exciting”. Those who use their mental faculties may be seen as incapable of violence, fearful, less able to provide.