situation leads to the opposite behavior, as in the case of 16 and Pregnant. The persuasion
effect is consistent across different settings and applies to decisions as consequential as fer-
tility and divorce. Furthermore, the research designs allow us to detect evidence of role
model effects not only in the short run but also in the long run, after years of exposure.
The effect on family outcome is one of the clearest cases of substantial media impacts.
This literature also highlights an important point on identification. In contrast to the
effects of television on education where there is little credible evidence, we have quite
extensive and detailed evidence on the imitation of family choices seen on television.
From a methodological point of