Family Experiences and Television Viewing as Predictors of Children's Imagination, Restlessness, and Aggression

• NCJ Number: 109158
• Journal: Journal of Social Issues Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: (1986) Pages: 107-124
• Author(s): J L Singer; D G Singer
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines some of the ways television may influence the imagination, motor activity, and aggressiveness of preschool and early school-aged children.

Abstract

A model is proposed in which a number of family and personal variables influence the growing child's response to television. The results of several empirical studies that investigated family influences are reported. It is concluded that television may contribute to children's restlessness, dysphoria, fears about daily dangers, and their proneness to aggression. Those parents who are themselves heavy viewers, who lack other interests, and who do not exert efforts to establish rules about television viewing, may provide a home atmosphere that puts their children at risk for a greater dysphoric tendency. Along with modeling their parents' own emotionality, reacting to power-assertive discipline, or forceful prescriptive communications, children's aggressive and emotional styles seem to reflect the heavy dose of frightening and arousing content that makes up television fare. (Author abstract)