GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PREADOLESCENT REACTANCE TO AGE-CATEGORIZED TELEVISION ADVISORY LABELS

Use of age-categorized television program ratings (TV-Y TV-Y7, TV-G, T V-PG, TV-14, and TV-M) was assessed for 203 fourth and fifth graders f rom Missouri and California. Ability to distinguish between pairs of r ating codes was low, and uses of codes for program selection and as pa rt of parental viewing rules was also low. Girls reported significantl y more parental viewing rules than boys and were significantly more li kely to prefer age-appropriate programs: a tainted-fruit effect. Boys were more likely than girls to prefer age-inappropriate programs: a fo rbidden fruit effect.