| MadSci Network: Neuroscience |
Well, there is a plethora of scientific reports as well as "lay" articles
on this matter (if the reference list provided is any indicator).
I gathered most information either from aPubMed search or by
searching the
News-Media Biology News
Database for 'television AND children'.
Most articles focus on the influence of televised violence on
childrens' (aggressive) behavior, their cognitive and school performance,
as well as health issues. It seems as if television viewing is rather
detrimental to the developing mind in providing only passive input and a
somewhat contorted view of reality, e.g. showing violent acts but not their
consequences. In addition, playing time spent outdoors is reduced in favor
of watching TV. This reduced physical activity plus an inappropriate diet
often lead to children being overweight or in bad shape.
I won't comment on the articles in detail since they speak for themselves.
In addition, most of the Web pages cited provide plenty of links to other
related pages.
The references are grouped into the following categories:
I hope these links help in answering your question. Should any further
question arise, feel free to email me.
Newspaper articles
Web articles
Scientific reports
Abstract
A longitudinal study investigated the extent to which
children's exposure to aggressive and prosocial
television models in drama programmes influences their
aggressive and prosocial behaviour. In The Netherlands we did not find
significant positive correlations between prosocial behaviour and the
viewing of prosocial behaviour on television. Positive correlations
were found, however, between aggression and television
violence viewing. This relationship disappeared almost completely when
corrections for the starting level of aggression and
intelligence were applied. The hypothesis, formulated on the
basis of social learning theory, that television violence
viewing leads to aggressive behaviour could not be supported. Our
findings are further discussed and compared with the results found in the
other countries participating in the international study.
Abstract
As we have indicated, children's television has either a documented or
probable effect on a variety of health-related
behaviors in children and adolescents in the United States.
Studies of cognitive development indicate
that television provides a stimulus for learning and that
children learn from television. The adverse
effects of television appear related to both the time spent
watching television and the content of the programs that are
viewed. The reviewed observations suggest that a variety of initiatives
are warranted to alter the time children spend watching television, the
content of programs, and the types of programs for children and adolescents
that are produced and broadcast. These initiatives require the development
of effective techniques and materials for counseling parents, as well as
continued political and legislative activities at the local and national
level. We must promote the conviction that time spent in activities other
than television viewing will provide our
children with the values necessary to understand and
interact with an increasingly complex world. Effective governmental
action on behalf of children to change television
will require a reaffirmation and enforcement of the Public Interest
Standard.
For half a century, the broadcast media have been licensed to use the
airwaves in the public interest. The diversity and magnitude of the
adverse effects of television on the health of children strongly suggest
that the use of television has not been in the public interest. Although
cable television offers multiple alternatives, less than 60%
of American households receive cable. Broadcast television
still represents the only alternative for 40% of American children.
Substantial regulatory change by the current administration is unlikely.
Therefore, legislative activity to mandate broadcast practices responsive
to the needs of children appears the most appropriate national approach.
[References: 206]
Abstract
Understanding the impact of TV on children's diet and
physical activity is important for developing strategies to prevent
obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Determining parents' perceptions of
television's influence on children's
dietary intake and physical activity may provide useful information on
this important topic. A questionnaire was developed to assess viewing
habits and child requests for food and sport items advertised on TV. It
was administered to 66 mothers of children, ages 3-8. Foods
that children requested because they had seen them on TV
paralleled the frequencies with which these foods were advertised on TV.
Weekly viewing hours correlated significantly with (a) reported requests
by children and purchases by parents of foods influenced by TV,
and (b) children's caloric intake.
Children's requests for sport items and physical activities
were not significantly correlated with the number of hours of TV viewing.
It appears from these data that parents perceive that
television influences family purchasing patterns through the
mechanism of their children's requests.
Abstract
The findings from 20 field experiments were examined to determine the
short-term effects of viewing aggression-laden television
shows on child social behavior. The available literature
provides little support for an effect that is peculiar to aggressive
content.
In fact, although almost all studies showed elevated levels of antisocial
behavior following the viewing of similar material, they also revealed
similar, and sometimes greater, effects in response to low or
nonaggressive fare. These findings are discussed with regard to their
clinical relevance for preventive medicine and implications for imposing
"wholesome" television programming on child viewers.
Abstract
The average child born today will, by age 15, have spent
more time watching television than going to school. Research
has shown that heavy doses of TV violence viewing are associated with the
development of aggressive attitudes and behavior. TV viewing
also appears to cultivate stereotypic views of gender roles and race.
Finally, television commercials often capitalize on
children's naivete, and also can foster and reinforce overly
materialistic attitudes. All of these adverse effects can be minimized if
parents restrict the amount of overall viewing, encourage some programs
and discourage others, and talk to children frequently about the
meaning of what they see on television.
Abstract
Television has a major impact on children's knowledge, attitudes, and
behavior. Research has demonstrated the association between television
viewing and four areas: (1) children's aggressive behavior; (2) racial and
sex-role stereotypes; (3) decreased interest in reading and school
activities; and (4) poorer health habits and attitudes. Methodological
limitations make it difficult to draw firm conclusions about a causal
relationship between television viewing and children's behavior.
Representative studies in these four areas are reviewed, important
methodological concerns are pointed out, and conclusions from the research
findings are drawn. The implications of the data for pediatricians and
other health professionals are discussed. [References: 44]
Abstract
Television has earned considerable public and academic
criticism in recent years for the alleged bias in its sex-role content. A
fundamental concern of many critics is with the representation of male
and female roles that confronts children. This paper reviews the
evidence accumulating from numerous content analyses of both adult and
children's television. Overall, the
evidence confirms that there are marked differences in the ways the
medium presents the sexes. These differences are both quantitative and
qualitative but the general pattern at either level is to present males as
dominant and females as nurturant and complementary. Some qualifications,
exceptions and gaps in the literature are discussed. The paper is the first
of a three-part review series of television and sex-role acquisition: the
subsequent papers will review respectively the effects of sex-stereotyped
TV content upon children and the prospects for counter-stereotyped
programmes aiming to modify young viewers' beliefs and attitudes.
[References: 31]
Abstract
Television plays an important role in the lives of
children, and for some a larger role than that of parents
and schools. There are many educational, social, and recreational
benefits gained from viewing television for persons of all ages.
Detrimental effects, however, are also possible, especially if the viewer
lacks the knowledge or emotional maturity to place a program in its
proper perspective. Debate has centered on whose responsibility it is to
provide children with this understanding and perspective, so that
television's benefits outweigh its detriments. This article
reviews current research on the amount of television viewing
by children, their reasons for doing so, and their
understanding of what they see on television. The
relationship is discussed between this understanding and the positive and
negative effects of certain types of programs and advertisements.
Suggestions for educational interventions by parents and teachers are
provided.
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Neuroscience.