Impact of Animation on Childrens Psychological Development - Research Proposal Example

The Impact of Animation for Children’s Psychological Development in Finding their Identities and its Possibility in the Treatment for Mental Health Problems Table of Contents Page Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Hypothesis 8 Preliminary survey of literature 9 Animation 9 Treatment for children’s mental health problems 10 Fairy tales 13 Identity and culture in postmodern world 14 Description of proposed research 18 Required kind of facilities installation 19 Detailed tutor support 20 Practical work needed to run 21 Required skills for this study 22 Results and conclusion 23 References 25 Abstract This study will try to understand the level of impact animation has on children’s psychological development. In particular, this study will try to answer the following research questions: 1. Does animation can help those children who are born abroad finding their identities? 2. Does animation can be an art treatment for children’s mental health problems? In order to do this, the proponent will essentially come up with different groups of children with different interracial orientation and understanding. Group 1 will have the same nationality as to be also indicated by their uniformity of skin tone or color. Group 2 will be the immigration group which will consist of children who in real life have trouble finding their real identity or those who are known as respondents belonging to the second-generation group. These are also children with parents of significantly different nationalities. Introduction (Answer of Part A) The 70% of person’s time in a day involves use of media, an indication that media have become so trivial in our lives because we heavily rely on messages or information (Potter, 2010). If this is the case, studying children’s behavior towards media is so trivial. In fact, children were considered little grown up adults and in order to understand them, there is a need to look into the life of adult (Rasmussen, 1900). Media shape society by their own terms because they receive more time and attention than ever (Giles, 2003; Biagi, 2006). Media supply knowledge, feeling and themes about morality (Schwartz, 1983). For instance, what we know about the world and our society has something to do about the contribution of mass media (Luhmann, 2000). A typical eight-to eighteen-year old American is found to give more time spend on media every week (Berger, 2000). This only proves that media can have substantial contribution to one’s life everyday. Media consist of different forms of communications that are capable of giving programmes, images, films and more (Buckingham, 2003). Media can impart message about gender and race (Larson, 2006). This is due to the fact that a story is made through the media production process which gives audience the ability to make out what they listen or observe (Goodman, 2003). The importance of media therefore in the society is enormous. The presence of media all over the world is substantial factor to significantly create an impact on the growth and development of children. The idea of growth in this case may refer to psychological approach and development. There are various themes and stimuli provided by media which at some point may essentially create an impact on children’s psychological development. Music, films, TV, radio, publishing and advertisements are all combined contents in the media with the aid of technological devices (Locksley, 2009). For instance, animation and animated characters have provided significant impact on children’s lives as they might create a reality out of them. These are all sort of entertainments from everybody’s point of view. Animation is another important component in media especially in dealing with the entertainment market for children. The society knows that children are always looking for fun, mystery, and something new and extra ordinary. All of these can be significantly addressed by animated programs and cartoons on Television, movies and films. In fact, different children have different favorite animated and cartoon characters. This is due to the fact that at some point, we can observe that children’s choosing of their favorite cartoon or animated characters has something to do with depicting characters that are funny, cuddly or even lovable for them. These are important considerations why Disney for instance needs to create characters that are friendly, informative and highly influential for children. In doing so, Disney will certainly create a market for their cartoon characters. It is in this reason why Disney for instance was able to constantly develop characters which are substantially included in animated films at the same time that can entertain children. Parents allow their children to watch animated films or cartoons because they primarily believe this will entertain young minds. However, they know little about it that there are far deeper implications than what they substantially believe. Natural learning which involves thinking, reading, observing, interacting, experiencing, reaching and so on are capable of determining person’s character, identity, values, morals, personality, thinking skills and more (Chadha, 2008). Fortunately, watching animation belongs to the category of natural learning for it is about experiencing and interacting essentially for young developing minds of children. Child development belongs to the period of transition and reorganization in which have received focus in research in order to understand how the child view the world and his or her self-identification (Tandon, 2008; Allen, 2007). Different theories suggest that child may develop by stages or continuously (Brain and Mukherji, 2005). During this stage of development, children are known to be keen and observant in their environment. Considering that they are exposed to animated films at this stage, it is worthwhile to understand the level of impact this can bring to them. For instance, animated films produced by America provide substantial cultural influence such as ‘The Lion King’ to ‘Mulan’ (Ward, 2002). More so, animated films continue to portray culture from the past and at present time (Lehman, 2009; Lehman, 2006). In line with this, children are unconsciously being influenced by animation regarding on their cultural stand and development. Animated films on the other hand continue to go changing in pace as change of taste on movie trends continuous, but those for children require substantial package of information that will be enough to be absorbed by young minds (Whitaker et al., 2009). In short, animation is an innovative film that continues to affect lives (Faber and Walters, 2004). In fact, animated films try to divert focus instead solely on femininity alone but now to masculinity as well (McCallum, 2002). Furthermore, animals and inanimate objects can talk and given with human characteristics in the case of Disney films playing together the universal themes of love, friendship and family (Booker, 2010; Rice, 2001). This creates a significant area of interest knowing that there might be good and bad impacts of animation on children’s psychological development. It is in line with this that there is a need to significantly understand the impact of animated movies or films on children especially on their psychological development. Thus, the following are research questions that will be addressed in the study: 1. Does animation can help those children who are born abroad finding their identities? 2. Does animation can be an art treatment for children’s mental health problems? Hypothesis The proponent believes that animation can help children who are born abroad in finding their identities. Furthermore, the proponent wants to prove that animation can be one of the art treatments for children’s mental health problems especially in the presence of fairy tales and animated motion films or movies. Thus, the proponent believes that animation is a powerful language which can effectively and successfully develop effective communication for children. In short, the proponent believes that animation can give children much better understanding on their present situation in life. Preliminary survey of literature (Answer of Part C) In this section, the proponent discusses other works done related to the study. In particular, by understanding the works on the art of treatment for children’s mental health problems, using of enchantment such as fairy tales, and deciding identity and culture in the postmodern world, this study can add to the current issues in animation. Animation Animation started in early 1900s and it was entirely developed into magical art as a form of entertainment for adults and children (Taylor, 2006). Computer animation is the most traditional version today which intends to copy the physics of the real world (Taylor, 2006). Audio has to be significantly created thus dubbing should be well done for animated films since most of them are foreign (Connor, 1990). This is to ensure that the message of the film should be understood and not bore the viewers. In animation film, children are given the opportunity to learn new insights or ideas such as on places or animals that the book cannot equal (Connor, 1990). This is due to the fact that cartoon networks try to entice children with monsters, grotesque superheroes and gratuitous violence (Damon and Lerner, 2006). Through this, animation has become a global business (Mogel, 1998). There is indeed a good opportunity for each children to learn more from animated films. In fact, children’s learning from animation was evaluated and there are strategies needed in order come up with efficient learning strategy (Kombartzky et al., 2010). This only implies that effective strategy must be involved in order to identify how exactly good for children’s learning are the animated films. Treatment for children’s mental health problems Mental health problems need treatment at some point. It is commonly observed there are alternatives in doing so. In the mental health problems, it is implied that there must be basic understanding on how an individual creates meaning out of what he or she perceived. It is in this way one may be able to find out who is normal and deviating from the norm. Construction, drawing or illustrations, movement and sound are used to represent meaning or ideas among children in early childhood, which can be realized by the use of technology (Makin et al., 2007). All of these can be essential parts of animated movies. Animated movies without question have advanced dramatically and it is important to note that such advancement is due to the fact that technology has also substantially advanced. Treatment for children’s health problems requires experts and one of them are child psychologists. For international and international affairs, child psychologists were able to acquire knowledge in these areas: individual differences; development and learning; and formulated significant problems and conceptual and experimental techniques for the solutions (Barker, 1946). Individual differences are among of the viewed factors to be looked at prior to understanding a child in general. Thus, it would matter to trace his or her specific nationality at some point. The next factor is development and learning. Children vary in their development and learning capacity. It is important then to consider at what level a children belongs in their capacity to understand things in order for the treatment to be effective. Experimental techniques are other important consideration upon treatment of mental health problems because it is through this that prior problem will be significantly understood in full detail. However, the bottom line of this all is to substantially consider the behavior of the children. There are important categories or determinants of child behavior. Physical make-up, psychological state and social context are said to be determinants of child behavior (Anderson, 1942). These determinants of child behavior are crucial factors in order to substantially troubleshoot children’s mental health problems in particular. Starting from the onset of understanding child behavior prior to understanding probable mental health problems, child psychology literatures which are available involve general discussion, kindergarten and Montessori methods, studies on vocabulary and speech, exceptional children, natural education, physical characteristics, intelligence scales, special topics including interests of children, acquisition of skill in music and experimental studies (Mitchell, 1917). These are all important components that need to be understood prior to understanding mental health capacity of a child. It is also through this that children’s mental health development will be able to recognize. Let us now take closely what are the impacts of media prior to treatment of children’s mental health problems. It was reported that media environments have encouraged researchers to look into morality, stereotypes, education and children’s ability to use their free time (Calvert, 2004). It is in line with this that children are significantly studied in detail on what common grounds they have all over the world. For instance, it was found that that those children who are exposed to televised story remembered more story actions while those who are exposed to read story remembered more story vocabulary and created inferences based on textual content, general knowledge, personal experience and asked questions and comments about the story (Meringoff, 1980). This showed that cognitive development is an important aspect that is highly affected by having story televised. It is in this reason that there is a need to crucially explore on this subject area to significantly discover the possibility to treat children’s mental health problems through media. For instance, oldest boys were found to be fond of watching TV sports and playing electronic games while oldest girls were fond of watching relationship drama but not much of playing electronic games (Wright et al., 2001). With this type of study, it is clear now at which point or on what aspect in media that children are mostly affected. It is through understanding this level of study that there will be detailed understanding on specific mental health problems that may arise. This at some point involves emotional and social aspects. Thus, in its subjective sense of spatial presence, engagement and emotional reaction are said to be the impacts of applying virtual characters in movies (Lin et al., 2010). Movies therefore would make sense in the treatment of mental health problems knowing that they are part of media components. In fact, study shows that TV story enhanced inferences of children based on actions (Ross and Gat, 1983). Thus, media is a good opportunity for children to improve their social, emotional and cognitive well-being (Calvert and Kotler, 2003). This is in the case of quality educational programs on TV for instance which can also be found out from animated movies or films. Fairy tales Information about social world can be obtained from exposure to different forms of narrative media through comprehension, exposure to storybooks, movies and television (Mar et al., 2010). Fairy tales can be in a form of drama, humor and informative. For instance, humor can be integrated in cartoons that teach young children the importance of hand washing and critique a popular cartoon (Kavanagh and Anderson, 2006). Thus, fairy tales therefore consists of important message that can substantially create impacts on the lives of children. Cartoon movies are normally viewed as source of fun for children but they also have educational aspects especially on gender development (Gokcearslan, 2010). According to study, cartoons usually feature male, female, animals and inanimate objects. Animals are usually given gender and sometimes cartoon characters are given asexual or homosexual characters. This helps children identify the concept of gender. However, child maltreatment incidents from Disney animated films in 1937 to 2006 was identified to be 561 out of 1369 characters in the film implying potential effects on the film viewers (Hubka et al., 2009). This issue is substantial enough to understand up to what level is the impact of animated films or fairy tales have on children. The Lion King for instance is not just a mere animated movie film but it depicts a patriarchical society marginalizing the segment of residents of hyenas (Dundes and Dundes, 2006). Identity and culture in the postmodern world It is important to understand that media are capable enough of changing society’s culture and identity. Let us take a look at it closely from the point of view of advanced postmodern world. In the twentieth century, the integration of electronic media with children’s daily lives has become part of the reality. The media environments that have completely become influential to the lives of children are comic books, mass broadcasts systems like television, film and radio, audio and video cassette recorders, video games, desktop computers, CD-ROM, internet and virtual reality (Calvert, 2004). There is exponential advancement between media and communication technology (Goldstein and Usdin, 2008). By this information, it is implied that visuals, such as movies particularly animated movies have substantially find their ways to every home with children who have potential access to them. These children therefore are potential subjects prior to understanding probable impacts of media and particularly animation on their psychological growth and development. Studies have shown starting in 1990 that children’s behaviors and value systems are shaped by media which resulted further to violent and aggressive behavior, alcohol and tobacco used, and accelerated onset of sexual activity (Villani, 2001). It is highly considered that the presence of media violence all over the world is viewed to be one of the sources of global aggressive culture (Groebel, 2004). This seems to be of a negative result, but it is generally stated from the stand point of media in general. There is no mention about specific programs that might be able to create a negative impact for children’s psychological growth and development. The following are negative impacts that might be contributed by television and electronic media on children’s mental and somatic well-being: violence and aggressive behavior on sexuality, physical activity; obesity and nutrition, drugs abuse and addiction; anxiety; depression; irregular sleep; attention deficits on cognition, language and reading; and creativity (Kappos, 2007). However, even if there are no concrete results to prove that these are negative impacts of television and electronic media, it is suggested that that there are indeed negative impacts. Media and children’s experiences give stereotype. Television and movies can form, change and reinforce these stereotypes. According to research, children reaching elementary schools already have full views of older adults due to representation of older people in Disney animated films according to their gender, race, appearance, role, personality and physical characteristics (Robinson et al., 2007). This research suggests that children have tendency to create negative feeling toward older people. Japanese anime for children has the tendency to sexualize and elongate human body which Chinese parents feared, but some animated movies which are considered good fables such as the Lion King are considered good for children in developing their characters (Donald, 2005). Children have definitely different responses to emotional portrayal on television (Wilson and Smith, 1996). Aggressive behaviors of children in Malaysia are traced to be possibly caused by aggressive and violent nature of media (Lan et al., 2010). Another indication that media show corresponding potential impacts on viewers is the presence of studies concerning depiction of alcohol or drugs and usage in films especially in modern introduction of media in our times (Thomson, 2005). Mothers themselves can evaluate the level of influence of cartoons in early childhood children and such evaluation is affected by mother’s educational level, children’s age, parent-child length of daily television watching and the overall perception on television (Ivrendi and Ozdemir, 2010). Even if media might pose negative impacts on children’s growth and development particularly on their psychological aspect, it is still important to consider that animation might still contribute a positive impact. After all, animation, accommodation and authorization are said to be three essential elements of human nature and personality which are also connected with the ways humans engaged in their world cognitively and emotionally (Apfel, 2001). Description of proposed research (Methodology – Answer of Part B, E, F, and G) This section describes how the proponent will try to go about the research. In particular, the proponent will start with studying any available literatures on the study in children psychology, media effects on children, the influence of animation on the growth and development of children concerning personal growth and development on animation, and psychoanalytic approach on animation. The proponent will find problems that will analyze animation in detail in terms of visceral, behavioral and reflective sources-story characters and its motions and others. In addition, it is also implied that the proponent will try to understand the history of animation, its level of change from the start until present, its major representation in the society, and its considerable impacts brought to children in different periods of time. Then the proponent will also observe and survey through interview with children and their parents as the main respondents of the study and major sources of information. In this regard, the proponent will find out existing meaning of home, politics and other important social information from the point of view of the respondents. Therefore, this research will lead to two different groups of children with different interracial orientation and understanding. Group 1 will have the same nationality as to be also indicated by their uniformity of skin tone or color. Group 2 will be the immigration group which will consist of children who in real life have trouble finding their real identity or those who are known as respondents belonging to the second-generation group. These are also children with parents of significantly different nationalities. Required kind of facilities installation The proponent will make use of video camera or any other recording devices or instruments that will be able to keep track detailed information in observing children during the experimentation process. The proponent will observe the respondents while they are watching relevant sources such as books, images, DVD’s and other interactive materials that will be needed during the experiment. Part of this is to find for a convenient place where the respondents cannot be destructed from external factors that may just hinder concentration on the subjects involved. This approach has to be done because child psychologists generate findings on the study of child behavior by observing, asking and experimenting (Schaffer, 2003; Mahmud, 2008). Detailed tutor support The proponent will need a wide range network in primary and elementary schools, hospitals, psychiatrists and other related experts on children behavior. This is to ensure detailed access of information and data whenever there is a need for the study to generate so. One scope of child psychology is to study child’s environmental influences upon development (Sharma et al., 2006). With the help of these experts, the proponent will be able to have guidance on the specific scope in child psychology. In line with this, the proponent requires an evaluation material or certification on direct contact with experts. There must be at least three experts who can testify that the proponent was able to make contact with them on the technicalities of the research process. On the other hand, the proponent will require full support from the parents of the chosen respondents so as to come up with substantial information during the entire study. In line with this, the proponent will secure letter regarding with the study justifying its intent and ensuring confidentiality of information that will be obtained from the respondents. Practical work needed to run The proponent will produce short animated films, developmental and experimental animation. In addition, children’s books on fairytale will be provided for the respondent born abroad. The purpose of this is to help the respondents understand or identify their identities. Required skills for this study (Answer of Part D) The proponent is adept in animation due to substantial knowledge and ideas learned on this field such as character building, creating specific motions, and story telling including their history. Thus, there is a need to be knowledgeable in animation and its other related aspects. Results and conclusion This study will basically try to achieve the answer for the research questions at the end of the study. The proponent will be able to come up with specific methods and strategies in order to find out the result of the following research questions: Does animation can help those children who are born abroad finding their identities? Does animation can be an art treatment for children’s mental health problems? These are crucial questions that this research must substantially addressed in order to contribute further to the growing knowledge in the field of understanding children’s mental growth and development. The proponent will be able to come up with effective survey or strategies in order to have access to important data and information. This study will substantially rely on the respondents and available related literature in order to come up with detailed information that can be used to justify whatever outcomes or results there will be. It is now the concern of the proponent to understand further the weaknesses or advantages of the chosen method in the data gathering in order to come up with more reliable data. Thus, the proponent is willing to explore further whatever methods that may be beneficial for the entire research process. However, such exploration must be highly approved by experts in order to justify the effectiveness of gathering data. References Apfel, R. E. (2001) ‘Animation-Accomodation-Authorization theory of the human personality.’ New Ideas in Psychology, Vol. 19 (2): 145-168. Allen, B. (2007) Child psychology. USA: Global Media. Anderson, J. E. (1942) ‘The contributions of child development to psychology.’ Journal of Consulting Psychology, Vol. 6 (3): 128-134. Barker, R. G. (1946) ‘Child psychology and societal reconstruction.’ Journal of Consulting Psychology, Vol. 10 (1): 29-34. Berger, A. A. (2000) Media and society: a critical perspective. USA: Rowman & Littlefield. Biagi, S. 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