The Important Role of the Media - Essay Example

Outline THESIS: Watching too much television affects preteens negatively. I. Watching violent programs promotes violence in teenagers. A.Violent programs trigger existing aggressive cognitions, leading to adaption of violent behavior in preteens. B. Violent programs reinforce the preexisting violent and aggressive thoughts in preteens. II. Watching sexually explicit programs undermines sexual reproductive health of preteens. A. Encourage early sexual experimentation that increases the chances of teen pregnancies and contracting sexually transmitted diseases, dropping out of school and making faulty decisions regarding sex. B. Lower the self-esteem of preteens resulting to lowering self -confidence about their bodies. III. Watching many programs consumes much time for academic work and physical exercises A. Result to poor academic performance. B. Contribute to development of obesity and unhealthy weight gain due to lack of physical exercises. IV. We need to promote watching beneficial programs and encourage parental participation in children activities. A. Censored programs are important source of knowledge and entertainment for preteens. B. Parental involvement in child upbringing protects preteen from being negatively influenced by Television. Media plays an important role by shaping our social, religious, economic and political aspects. In this era of rapid technological advancement, information is flowing at unprecedented rate and though there are many forms of accessing information, television remains one of the most common and influential to all people in the society. Young people especially preteens and adolescents form a major segment of TV audience and according to Comstock and Paik (1991, p51), television programs have major influence on their behaviors. In United States, the public is concerned over the frequent depiction of violent and sexually explicit programs and the harm that the programs present to the youth. This development comes after many studies have established that such programs adversely affect children on short term and long-term basis (Anderson & Bushman, 2002, p234). This paper expounds on the negative influences of television on preteens and adolescents. According to Comstock and Paik (1991, p59), television programs with violent content enhance immediate and long-term development of aggression and violent behavior on preteens and young adults. The intensity of these behaviors depend on the severity of the violent programs, with Rosenthal (1986, p 143) noting that preteens who watch extremely violent programs have higher likelihood of developing severe forms of aggression. Empirical studies have established that short-term exposure to violent programs increases the likelihood of preteens developing physical and verbal abuse behavior, aggressive emotions and violent thoughts. Many research studies attribute aggression by adults later in life to the effects of frequently exposing children to violent content in the television and other forms of electronic media. These behaviors are manifested in the high prevalence of violent crimes such as aggravated assaults, homicide, physical assaults, domestic and spousal violence in addition to rape among others (Freedman, 2002, p37). Behavioral scientists have developed several theories to explain how exposure to violent or sexually explicit content affects the behavior of the viewer. According to Comstock and Paik (1991, p61), violent programs in the television initiates a short-term effect that increases the existing aggressive cognitions in children and young adults. This results to an increase in psychological arousal that triggers an automatic reaction to emulate the observed behavior. Therefore, exposure to violent content produces long lasting effect on the young persons, through several learning processes that lead to acquisition of long-term aggressive behavior. The long-term behaviors include development of aggression supporting beliefs, abnormal response to violent behavior such as; tolerating violence, aggression in social places and in the interpersonal relationships (Comstock and Paik, 1991, p79). However, development of violence in children and adults does not solely arise from watching violent programs in the television and other forms of media. Exposure to violent content is just one of the contributing factors, others factors including the environment that the child is brought up (Rosenthal, 1986, p 106). Another adverse effect of violent content is that it reinforces the preexisting violent and aggressive thoughts in preteens and young adults (Anderson & Bushman, 2002, p241). Young viewers who believe that violence against others is acceptable, those who support revenge in addition to male children that believe that they are superior to their girl counterparts are likely to become more violent on watching the violent content. Watching these programs therefore reinforces many negative prejudices present in the society to the preteen and young adults. These include racial stereotyping and gender biased prejudices among others (Anderson & Bushman, 2002, p234). For instance, portraying African American men as criminals in most violent programs has resulted to most teens believing that directing violence to them is justified. Teens rely on television and other forms of media to learn about sexual issues, dressing, fashion and other desirable lifestyles. A study conducted by Freedman (2002, p116) established that over 61 percent of preteens depended on media for information on sexual health and sexuality. During teenage period, Rosenthal (1986, p 153) noted that adolescents are very sensitive about their image and how fellow age mates perceive them. In this regard, they spend a lot of time watching television programs with sexual and violent themes. In a development stage where they are yet to develop their self-identities, watching such contents creates false impressions that portrays all youth as sexually active, in addition to other images that reflect an unrealistic lifestyles. This results to high incidents of teenage sex that causes teenage pregnancies and other reproductive health problems, including contracting sexually transmitted diseases (Comstock and Paik, 1991, p66). Preteens who watch sexual content in the media are more likely to make wrong sexual decisions than those who rely on parental advice in matters pertaining to sex and sexuality (Rosenthal, 1986, p56). In addition to making inappropriate decisions about their sexuality, watching sexual content on the media interferes with the development healthy self-esteem of preteens and young adults (Comstock and Paik, 1991, 125). According to Rosenthal (1986, p 154), early teenage years are crucial for development of self-esteem. However, most sexual programs portray girls with petite and slim body shapes. These images are detrimental especially to the teenage girls because they enhance development of insecurities about their weight and beauty. Consequently, teenage girls resort to adapting poor feeding habits in order to acquire the idolized body size and shape. Watching television consumes a larger proportion of the time than that the duration that teens spend on reading and playing outdoors combined. This results to poor academic performance and development of adverse health effects such as obesity. Watching television is a passive activity that does not entail much physical exertion. Comstock and Paik (1991, p110) attributes the increasing rate of obesity in young children in the United States to lack of physical exercise, not because of lack of time but spending a lot of time watching television and other forms of electronic media. In addition to lack of physical exercises, television adverts promote adoption of poor eating habits and lifestyles such as smoking, and using alcohol in adolescents (Comstock and Paik, 1991, p176). However, watching television is beneficial to all people including preteens if appropriate programs are aired. Some of the content aired in television is entertaining and provides valuable opportunity for relaxation and family reunion after a busy day at work and school. Some programs in television such as documentaries are educational and they inform preteens on diverse topics such as nature, environment, different cultures, and other important occurrences around and beyond the globe. This helps in promoting cultural tolerance and better understanding of our environment. Anderson and Bushman (2002, p249) noted that programs aired by positive role models influences preteens to consciously make appropriate life style changes and become successful in their lives. Although the media plays a significant role in promoting violence and inappropriate sexual behaviors, most parents do not spend much time with their children to guide and advice them on matters pertaining to their sexuality and adopting positive habits in life. References Anderson, C. & Bushman, B. “The Effects of Media Violence on Society”. Science. 295 (2002): pp 230- 312. Comstock, G., & Paik, H. Television and the America Child. New York: Academic Press, 1991. Freedman, J. Media Violence and Its Effects on Aggression. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2002. Rosenthal, R. “Media Violence, Antisocial Behavior and the Social Consequences of Small Effects”. Journal of Social Issues. 42.3(1986): 140-157. Read More