Negative Effects of Tv on Family Life
Negative Effects of TV
The television has many effects on family life and the individual, causing family bonds to unravel and the individual to become naive of their surroundings. The TV keeps one hooked for hours on end, causing family relationships to diminish and personal relationships to weaken. Not only does the TV seem to be a good alternative to conversations and interactions amongst one another, but it also helps to create a gap between the fictional world of TV and reality.
Since the invention of the home television, it has become a crucial part in everyday household life. Children spend less time with family, because it is simply easier to sit down and be entertained by the TV. ”The time spent next to it [the TV] exceeds the amount of time spent together with any other family member. ” (Wattermann) Watching TV has a major effect on the way a child communicates with other family members and friends, distancing them from real-world situations and problems. Parents spend long hours working and want an effective suppressant for their children. Contemporary parents work a lot, but when they come back home they are not eager to spend time with their child…” (Wattermann) Even adults fall into the attraction of taking themselves out of their childs’ life, in order to relax or gain the free time they long desire. The effect the TV has on the family has been negative in comparison to the original intention of bringing the TV into the home, back in the 1940s. The depiction of the family watching TV together has changed, and now with multiply TVs present in a home, the separation and disfunction of the family has increased.
TV also has a negative effect on the individual, because it takes away from potential relationships and also promotes bad behavior and aggressions as seen on violent television shows. What is being watched on television has the potential to influencing negative behavior, within the child or even adult. In an article from the AAP or the American Association of Pediatrics, it was noted that, “Extensive research evidence indicates that media violence can contribute to aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence, nightmares, and fear of being harmed. ” (Pediatrics Vol. 108 No. ) The violence seen on TV, can lead to violent acts later on. Individuals are affected by what they see on TV and can be influenced by the suggestive nature that is described in almost every TV program. “Even in G-rated, animated movies and DVDs, violence is common” (Boyse, RN). The TV violence has an effect on people and children of all ages, and even though some programs are educational and beneficial for the development and growth of the child, there are so many other programs going on at the same time that contradict the idea of “good TV”. Television watching also has a major impact on the self-image one has of themself.
The TV paints a false image of what the normal and accepted person should look like. The person watching, therefore gets sucked into the mindset that they have to be like the well-toned models seen on tv, this creates many different problems. Insecurities within the individual flourish and they are constantly bombarded with images of how they should be, in order to fit into today’s society. While watching constant images of healthy women and men makes some people immediately jump off the couch and start their “cardio routine” some sit back and envy what they simply will never have.
Ironically, this leads to eating disorders and obesity. “People, who spend hours and hours in front of the TV sets, are under very high risk of becoming overweight and obese. ” (API Heathline) Either way, false advertisement of the way someone should be perceived has a negative effect on the viewer. In general, the content on TV impacts who were are and who we want to become in order to fit into society. Another factor involved in television watching, is the amount and the persistence of commercials.
Commercials make up a majority of television air time, trying to influence people to spend time and resources on products and new inventions that will make you better fit into society. For example, food commercials are constantly influencing people to make new recipes or to go to the newest most delicious restaurant in town. Other commercials such as the shopping channel become appealing to the older audience who are alone and constantly craving new things. This leads to hording and other disorders, including the addiction of television watching in itself.
Commercials and news articles also persuade people in terms of politics, economic issues, and social influences therefore inducting the one-way nature of the viewers. If people constantly go to the TV for current updates on news and other current events then it deters the need to communicate with one another and create the social relationships needed to have a cohesive balance in life. Another problem that arises with TV is the effect it has on one psychologically. Kids spend many hours in front of the TV, especially over long periods of isolation. Some adults can argue that the constant atching of television is the beginning of a new age of addiction. “Studies about negative effects of television addiction show the TV addicts’ people through its tranquilizing numbing affect, causing them to relax, become drowsy, and then desire to watch more TV. ” (Parenting-Healthy-Children) Watching TV seems to have the same effects that habit- forming narcotics have on the individual. When watching hours upon hours of TV, one is quickly relaxed and put into a state of obliviousness to the outside world, therefore having similar effects of mind altering drugs.
TV watching has many effects on the viewer and can lead to many social and personal problems. Family relationships, individual self- consciousness, and violent/ inappropriate subject matter all lead to the conclusion that too much television can be harmful to our society. TV is readily available to every one of all ages, and the majority of the material is geared toward a more mature audience. Over time, TV has changed dramatically from mostly family-oriented TV programs to programs geared to different age groups, in order to attract different audiences.
References:
- Children and TV: The Negative Effects of Television. ” Children and TV: The Negative Effects of Television. N. p. , n. d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
- “Media Violence. ” Media Violence. N. p. , n. d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
- “Bad Effects Of Watching Too Much TV; Academic Programs International a?? Health Line. “Academic Programs International Health Line Bad Effects Of Watching Too Much TV Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
- “The Negative Effects of Television Addiction and Computer Addiction.” The Negative Effects of TelevisionAddiction and Computer Addiction. N. p. , n. d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
