Television
The Negative Effects of Television on Children and Adolescents Television is one of America's favorite pastimes. It has become almost second nature to turn the TV on because of the need for entertainment, the need to satisfy boredom, or merely for background noise. Many people even leave the TV on while they perform other household duties. Often, children are placed near a TV set while their parents or babysitters tend to other business. Children are instantly attracted to the flashy colors and stimulating sounds provided through television. At a glance, children watching television seems harmless, however, various studies have proven that this is not a harmless activity. According to Pediatrics, "The average child or adolescent watches an average of nearly 3 hours of television per day. By the time the average person reaches age 70, he or she will have spent the equivalent of 7 to 10 years watching television" (1).This massive amount of time spent viewing television exceeds the amount of time a child will have spent in school. Naturally, the television provides children with learning much of the time they are watching. However, not all learning is positive. In most cases, children are learning about stereotypes, aggression
Not only the direct violent acts, but also the suggestive messages in television are emotionally harmful to children. There are also long term physical effects of television. This sometimes provokes copycat crimes in nature or technique" (175). However, with continuous parental and educational intervention, harmful consequences can be reduced greatly. Author George Palermo says, "In the final analysis, however, it is the parents' responsibility to assume duty of screening television programs" (20). The massive amount of violence viewed daily is the main contributor to the desensitization of children. Although the media's depiction of beauty is extremely unrealistic, it is so widely accepted that adolescents try to change their appearance. Most are not employed; those who have jobs are often in stereotypical female careers such as teachers or secretaries" (Kail and Cavanaugh 263). In accordance with imprecise racial and gender roles, a heavy emphasis on body appearance can lead adolescents, particularly girls, to adopt a distorted image of beauty. Parents play the biggest role in the intervention process. This discovery is not surprising, however, because of the excessive amounts of violence on television today.
Common topics in this essay:
Kail Cavanaugh,
According Pediatrics,
George Palermo,
Body Image,
Television Children,
Psychology Media,
Graydon Examining,
Violence Television,
Television America's,
Pamela Brink,
children adolescents,
violence television,
television programming,
kail cavanaugh,
effects television,
children watch,
body image,
20 march 2001,
viewing television,
lifespan development,
television children,
physical effects television,
children opportunity talk,
institute media family,
negative television programming,
|
Acceptance Essays
