The paradox of realism and "authenticity" in entertainment-education: a study of adolescents' views about anti-drug abuse dramas.

Publisher: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8908762 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 1041-0236 (Print) Linking ISSN: 10410236 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Health Commun Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: [London] : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
Original Publication: Hillsdale, N.J. : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, c1989-

Drama*; Health Education/*methods ; Substance-Related Disorders/*prevention & control; Adolescent ; Fear ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Israel ; Self Efficacy

The successful use of drama as a vehicle to influence health-related attitudes and behaviors is credited to its ability to elicit an emotional experience and identification among audience members. This study investigated the views of adolescents regarding an entertainment-education (EE) component of their school's anti-drug program - a live performance of a professionally produced anti-drug abuse drama. The analysis draws mainly on data collected from 64 focus groups, conducted in 24 schools across Israel, and open-ended responses to questionnaires administered to more than 1,700 adolescents. The adolescents were generally entertained by the anti-drug abuse drama and moved by its "authenticity," which emerged as a central construct in this study. Yet only a fraction identified with the characters and many remained unwilling to "tell" on a friend who uses drugs. Drawing on these findings, implications to EE theory and practice are discussed, particularly as they relate to the drama's perceived realism or "authenticity," and its unintended effects.

Date Created: 20080430 Date Completed: 20080620 Latest Revision: 20080429

20221213

10.1080/10410230801968070

18444000