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A:
Guest Expert, Anat First, PhD, answers:
Unfortunately, I can't give a clear-cut
answer to your question. Researchers are divided on this issue.
Some claim that television is the most important factor in our
media culture; that many of our images and much of what we learn
and know comes from our media environment. They say that television
has a great influence on those who watch it.
Others say there is no influence
from above, as it were; that everything depends on what the consumer
does with what he sees or hears. In this view, the consumer interprets
what she sees; she comes to the medium with her own particular
needs. In other words, there is no direct influence -- it's what
you do with it. According to this view, if someone is influenced
by violence on TV, it's because he has a predisposition to violence.
Researchers who subscribe to the
first view would say your girls are being very influenced by TV
and that the TV is causing the symptoms you see. Those who subscribe
to the second view would say that what's going on has more to
do with your daughters' personalities, needs and the social context
in which they find themselves.
Many things other than television
can cause deterioration in behavior in the teen years: puberty,
a crisis with a boyfriend, or other things of which you may not
be aware. We know that television is an escapist media. Perhaps
they are coming to the television because of such problems. We
often see kids this age closing themselves up in their rooms and
listening loudly to a tape of depressing songs. Can we say the
music is influencing them? Or are they listening to this type
of music because of their own needs?
We also know that the teen years
can be a very tense time. Perhaps some of the tension is caused
by the fight over how much television watching is acceptable.
It's true that television is taking
up more and more room in our lives and it's very modern to blame
television for our problems. But life is much more complex. We
know that the teen years are a time of building personality and
identity. There is a lot going on. I wouldn't hurry to blame television.
There are more complex processes at work.
There is no research to prove this,
but common sense would also suggest that sitting so long in front
of the television (or any medium) might have a detrimental effect
on a growing child.
Anat First is a lecturer in the Department of Communications
and Journalism at the Hebrew University.
Hanna Adoni, PhD, professor of communications,
department of communications and journalism, Hebrew University,
adds:
Research shows that there is a
very strong novelty effect when a new medium is introduced. Kids
are hungry for what is new. The change in behavior that you notice
could definitely be a part of this novelty effect. However, research
also shows that slowly and with time, the effect wears off and
children return to other activities. They will watch more television
than they did before cable, in this case, was introduced, but
it will be less than they are watching now.
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