Television and Children

Research Paper # 68208

Communication > Mass Media
Communication > Television
Psychology > Behaviorism
Psychology > Child and Adolescent
Sociology > Media and Society

An examination of how media effects the minds of young children and what can be done to prevent it.

3,258 words () | 7 sources | MLA | 2006 Pakistan

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how research studies have indicated a close link between violent, aggressive and anti-social behavior of children and television. It contends that media plays a vital role in building and shaping the personality of a child and in reinforcing stereotypes in sexes. It also discusses how program ratings devised for parenting control are too lenient which makes it impossible for the parents to protect their children from ill-effects of media. Children imitate what they see on the television and eventually learn to resolve issues through confrontations, instead of peaceful and non-violent ways.

From the Paper:

"In today's world, electronic media is the most powerful tool in configuring human thought process. It can be employed for broadening the horizons or it can be used to pollute the innocent minds. It's effects on children are devastating. A child's mind is like a clean slate and it constantly keeps recording every image and every sound it encounters. It keeps on building concepts of spending life through these images. Children minds can not analyze at their own. They can not differentiate between a good and a bad thing unless these are shown or explained with obvious outcome of the actions. Moreover, children mind are very fragile. Their imaginations can be easily transported to new dimensions. "