Buy term paper on Influence of TV on teen culture

It must be pointed out that the influence of television on the psyche of children differs greatly from the effects on adults. For example, the results of research shows that younger students not always clearly identify where is the truth and falsehood: they blindly trust everything that is presented on the screen, they are easy to manage, manipulate their emotions and feelings. Negative information, which is often presented on the screen, causing the child a desire to try what he sees. Only from 14-15 years and older teenagers begin not so confidently believe the facts that they had seen on television. (D. Roberts, U.Foehr, V.Rideout, M. Brodie, 1999)
So what effect does television have on children’s development?
Typically, children and teenagers watch entertaining movies: mysteries, action, fantasy, horror, adventure, etc. Such uncontrolled views spoil children and lead to undesirable consequences:
1. Children learn to superficial perception of life, become passive and intellectually lazy.
2. Under the influence of behavior and actions of the heroes of the film the self-energy and creative power of the child weakens.
3. When viewing movies and entertainment programs, children are not making mental effort, in connection with the reduced level of understanding of the child, its reduced visual perception and ability to think logically.
4. Over time, in the children’s character appear lies and concealment, the child gets used to empty holding of time, and sitting in front of the screen.
5. Programs and films of low moral level are teaching children aggression, committing reprehensible deeds, and, ultimately, help to reduce moral foundations.
6. Trashy movies influence the physical condition of the child, as his nervous system weakens.
7. Films of a low level indicate improper and criminal acts like a normal human behavior.
It is necessary to speak about the most common negative effects of TV on children and teenagers.
One of the problems that occurs in connection with television – is an unhealthy diet, the effects of which complicate the unrealistic notions about how certain foods affect the human body. The more a child watches television, the less it moves and more “bites” instead of eat properly. This, in turn, can lead to obesity and other troubles. Unfortunately, in the formation of an unhealthy habit plays a significant role television advertising, because it mostly offers us all sorts of dishes, foods that are high in fat, cholesterol, sugar and salt. Most of the commercials, going during the various programs devoted to all kinds of sweets and delicacies, while in many sugary flakes by weight, contain more sugar than, for example, in the cake. Scientists argue that advertising has on teenage audience noticeable effect. (D. Roberts, U.Foehr, V.Rideout, M. Brodie)
Some countries have laws governing the impact of advertising on teens and thereby preventing incorrect diet nutrition. For instance, in the Netherlands in advertising any sweets in a corner of the screen have to attend a toothbrush, and the Canadian state of Quebec in general prohibited direct any advertising to children under the age of twelve years.buy term paper
Psychologists suggest that television is developing an unhealthy interest in sex and a source of temptation. The frank allusions, sexy look and seductive behavior of women is prevalent in commercials and music videos, as well as most other programs. Sex on screen often appears to us in the form of violence, cruelty or crime, and the relatively infrequent intimate relations people loving each other is for gentle and permanent. About 70% of all TV episodes about sex are either non-marital relationships, or prostitution. (D. Kunkel, KM. Cope, WJM. Farinola, E. Biely, E.Rollin, 1999)
Over the past 40 years in the world has been conducted over 1000 studies on the impact of television and cinema on children and teenagers. Studies were conducted in many countries, among boys and girls belonging to different races, nationalities and social groups. Nevertheless, research results were virtually identical: the aggression on the screen makes children more aggressive toward humans, animals and inanimate objects.
American Academy of Pediatrics \ American Academy of Pediatrics issued four fundamental conclusion from these studies:
1. Children who watch a lot of programs containing scenes of violence, perceived violence as a legitimate way of resolving conflicts.
2. scenes of violence makes people more vulnerable to violence in real life.
3. The more a child sees violence on the screen, the more likely that it will become a victim of violence.
4. If the child prefers watching television, containing scenes of violence, there is much more likely that he will grow aggressive person and may even commit a crime. (AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, 2001)
American child spends 28 hours a week watching television – more than student spends in the classroom. As at least one hour a day a teenager playing video games or surfing. A few hours a week he devotes to watching movies and listening to music. (AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, 2001)
Television has had a major impact on crime rates: there is a clear relationship – the level of crime in a country has increased in 10-15 years after the appearance of television.
In 2001, the United States scientists released a report that stressed that movies and television programs containing violence, is a risk factor for teenagers. In terms of impact on the consciousness of the child he is on the same level as that of the other risk factors – poverty, poor social environment, low level of intelligence, etc. Polls show that roughly three-quarters of U.S. residents are convinced that television broadcasts are overwhelmed by violence.
A survey conducted by broadcaster Fox News after the regular cases of murders committed by school children, showed that 29% of Americans believe the creators of movies, television and music have been guilty of these crimes (58% put the blame on the parents). (D. Roberts, U.Foehr, V.Rideout, M. Brodie)
A similar poll service Gallup showed that U.S. residents consider television the second major cause of the rise of child abuse: 40% put primary blame on parents, 8% – on television, 7% – the shortcomings of teachers, 6% – on the psychological problems of children, 5% – the loss of society of strict moral imperatives.( D. Roberts, U.Foehr, V.Rideout, M. Brodie)
But it is not a secret that television is not just evil, it has a lot of useful and instructive, and teenagers should view some movies and shows, it is important to help find them to find proper programs among the huge amount of unnecessary material.
But what gives the child a TV? Does watching TV has something positive for teenagers? We can name some of positive effects:
1. Ability to relax and forget everyday problems, withdraw from the fears and emotions.
2. Ability to find answers to questions that can not be obtained from adults because of their employment.
3. Ability to understand the TV, “what is good and what is bad.”
4. The development of knowledge, raising the cultural level.
5. Understanding the different phenomena in different fields of knowledge.
6. The development of imagination, fantasy, emotional sphere.

Conclusion
Television in the 21st century has penetrated into all spheres of life, became the primary means of production of modern culture and a source of education for children and adolescents.
Television plays a dual role in shaping the knowledge of the young generation. It is believed that this role is negative, because it distracts from more meaningful activities, shows examples of undesirable behavior, impairs vision. And yet, in moderation viewing programs it has a positive effect.
The influence of television on the education of children and adolescents can not be evaluated unambiguously. On the one hand, their commercialization leads to the predominance on television and the pages of periodicals violence, sex, advertising. On the other hand, the emergence of new types of helping young people both in the classroom and in expanding horizons, opening up entirely new horizons of knowledge. Thus, television continues to play a significant role in the life of a teenager, and the functions that it performs are manifold: it news, and interesting information and education, and recreation, and diverse entertainment.
References:
1. American Academy of Child and Adolescents Phychiatry. “Children and watching TV”. Facts for families, No. 54; March 2001
2. AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS: Children, Adolescents and Television. PEDIATRICS Vol. 107, No. 2. February 2001, pp. 423-426
3. D. Kunkel, KM. Cope, WJM. Farinola, E. Biely, E.Rollin. “Sex on TV: Content and Context”. Menlo Park, CA: The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation, 1999
4. M. Schwarz. “TV and Teens”. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1982.
5. D. Roberts, U.Foehr, V.Rideout, M. Brodie. “Kids and Media at the New Millennium: A Comprehensive National Analysis of Children’s Media Use”. Menlo Park, CA: The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation Report; 1999