Sex in Advertising Research: A Review of Content, Effects, and Functions of Sexual Information in Consumer Advertising

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163 citations0/0 files storedAnnual Review of Sex Research

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Media, Gender, and Advertising Marketing and Advertising Strategies Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology

Abstract

This article is a review of academic research on the content and effects of sexual information in advertising (i.e., sex in advertising). In addition to covering common types of sexual content analyzed in research, inquiry on processing and emotional response effects is reviewed. Several areas for continued research are identified, especially with regard to advertisers' use of sexual outcomes as reasons for using brands and the ability of sexual information to influence brand perceptions. This review has applicability to advertising and marketing research and practice, as well as to any area that employs sexual information for persuasive purposes (e.g., safer-sex social marketing campaigns). In addition, it is hoped that sex researchers will recognize and elaborate on the role of sexual response identified in this research to further inform advertising theory and effects research.

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2025Advances in Consumer Research 1977Attitude-behavior relations: A theoretical analysis and review of empirical research.2010Handbook of social psychology 1997Advertising And Promotion: Integrated Marketing Communications Perspective 1977The Impact of Physically Attractive Models on Advertising Evaluations 1991Enhancing and Measuring Consumers' Motivation, Opportunity, and Ability to Process Brand Information from Ads 1978Current issues and research in advertising 1967Measurement of Activation through Self-Report

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