The study in this report involved a 14-year-old adolescent female who was 5-feet 2-inches and weighed 132 pounds; she was given a challenge to walk for exercise and use an exercise machine at home -- and in turn she agreed to cut back on television and other media usage. The bottom line was, she lost weight, but moreover, one year after the study she was increasing the level of physical activity she had been given at the outset of the study.
Evidence is presented in an article titled "Body Dissatisfaction and Patterns of Media Use Among Preadolescent Children" that boys and girls determine to some degree how their bodies should look from watching television. The authors' empirical research indicates that "body dissatisfaction and concern with weight" actually develop before a child reaches age 7 in Western societies (Jung, et al., 2007, p. 40). The alert researcher can see from the outset that marketing efforts by companies selling clothes, music, food and other products have a dynamic effect on children. "Thinness is considered as one of the most important criteria for female attractiveness," (Jung 41) the authors explain; and for males, "well-developed chest and arm muscles" are very important.
And how do young people develop these ideas about the preferred body types? The article points to television as the source of these attitudes by children; indeed, a study referenced by Jung found that "adolescent females who viewed more television were more dissatisfied with their bodies than were females who viewed less television" (Jung 42). In another study (this one involving grade school children) the amount of television viewing time was linked to "increased eating disorder symptoms" among both boys and girls. As weight issues, another study showed that, "below average weight female characters [on TV shows] received significantly more positive verbal comments from male characters with regards to body weight and shape than their heavier counterparts" (Jung 42). The result of studies like this show that television images (of thin pretty characters) can cause girls to potentially develop eating disorders, a dangerous and unproductive dynamic for parents and communities.
Beyond the issues of violence and weight, television also has a potentially negative impact on a child's literacy,...
Television Violence and the Effects on Children Although the debate goes on as to whether or not television violence has a negative impact on children, there is ample evidence to verify that indeed, children are impacted in largely negative ways by being witnesses to violence on television. This paper provides six reasons why allowing children to watch violent TV is a bad idea and can create aggressive people later in life. Reason
It seems that violence on television does contribute to aggressive behavior, yet it is important to note that television is only one of many causes of aggression (Gunter and McAleer, 1990). Many other factors unrelated to television influence violence, and the specific impact of televised violence is dependent upon age, sex, family practices, and the way violence is presented. One statement is often repeated: television has major effects on
Attitudes and practices varied by age of the child and the gender of the parent. Colorito, Rita. (2002) "Violence on Television News Programs is a Serious Problem." Is Media Violence a Problem? Ed James Torr San Diego: Greenhaven, 2002. 24- 30. Colorito says that even though rates of crime decreased in the 1990s, television news coverage of violent crime increased. TV news shows like 20/20 and Dateline frequently show stories on
Two of the most important things that the industry is doing now is making sure that all television programs are rated, and using v-chips to keep children from seeing programs that contain violence (Szaflik, 2000). Neither one of these ideas are foolproof, however, and therefore more must be done. Unfortunately, not that many parents and educators are aware of what else can be done to help, and therefore television violence
In contrast, TV influences children in abandoning the theories they were taught and embrace other concepts, most related to violence. Also, after being exposed to TV violence children feel that it is perfectly natural for them to behave similar to the characters on TV (Langone, 1984, p. 48). It is extremely important for a child to be assisted by an adult when watching TV. Studies have shown that children are
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Social Psychology: Television Violence and its Contribution to Aggression of ChildrenSocial psychologists take violence as a great concern since it is creating a negative impact on the mental conditions of the young generation. In the United States, children watch television shows that comprise 60% of violence in any form, and even 40% of them consist of substantial violence (Huesmann, 2007). Even the video games that are a form
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