The Influence of TV

1
The Influence of TV

• Social Effects of TV

2
TV Good or Bad?

• Does TV influence our speech?
• Does TV affect our political views?
• Does TV persuade us to buy products?
• Does TV reinforce or counter stereotyping?
• Does TV challenge our beliefs?
• Can TV make us do something we normally may not
  do?

3
TV Good or Bad?

• Does TV change our minds?
• Does TV impact our lives?
• Does TV make us a better person?
• Does TV enrich our lives?

4
TV Good or Bad?

• On a good day, TV
• entertains
• informs
• persuades
• enlightens
• educates

5
TV Good or Bad?

• On a bad day, TV
• desensitizes the world to violence
• reduces political discourse to soundbites
• fosters short attention spans
• promotes a sedentary lifestyle
• encourages crass materialism
• demeans women and fathers

6
TV Good or Bad?

• What is televisions responsibility to its
  viewers?

7
TV and Sex

• 75 of prime time series feature some form of
  sexual content -- either physical or verbal.
• Two years ago, 67 featured sex.
• Sexual intercourse is firmly suggested in 10 of
  all shows.
• Just 10 of all shows with sexual content make
  even a passing reference to safe sex.

8
TV and Sex

• A study by the Parents Television Council
  reported that objectionable material aired in
  what was formerly considered the family viewing
  hour has increased by 75 in the last 18 months.
• 94 of sex on television is between people who
  are not married to each other.

9
TV and Sex

• Teens watch three hours of television daily.
• Research shows that television hastens the
  initiation of sexual activity in teens.
• But, research also shows that television can be
  an effective source of information about birth
  control, STDs, date rape, etc.

10
TV and Stereotypes

• Only 1.4 percent of major characters in TV are
  African-American (13 of total U.S. population)
• Asian/Pacific and Latino/Hispanic characters are
  also under-represented.
• Men outnumber women 2-1

11
TV and Politics

• Since 1960, the media has been the most dominant
  influence in politics.
• The media help candidates gain political
  awareness.
• News coverage helps determine issues --
  agenda-setting.
• Political ads can significantly help or hurt a
  candidate.

12
TV and Politics

• Televised debates between candidates (and the
  accompanying coverage) bring attention to the
  candidates and the issues.
• Election coverage, specifically exit polls, can
  have a significant impact on voter turnout.

13
TV and Politics

• In 1952, Walt Disney created a commercial for
  Dwight Eisenhower You like Ike. I like Ike.
  Everybody likes Ike.
• Political advertising first became a separate
  advertising category in 1970 when candidates
  spent 12 million on television commercials.

14
TV and Politics

• In the next 18 months, candidates are expected to
  spent 3 billion on political ads. Thats a 43
  percent increase from 2006.

15
TV and Violence

• Over 3,000 sociological studies have demonstrated
  that television teaches children that guns and
  violence solve problems.
• These studies agree that television and its
  portrayal of violence affects the way children
  perceive people and that is shapes the
  expectations about their future.

16
TV and Violence

• George Gerbner says the use of gratuitous
  violence on television creates anxiety -- a
  viewers expectations of violence are far greater
  than the actual threat.
• Viewers also become desensitized to violence.
• Viewers dont see the consequences of violence.

17
TV and Violence

• By the end of elementary school, children will
  have seen 10,000 violence acts on television
  (8,000 are murders). By the end of high school,
  that figure jumps to 200,000 violence acts
  (14,000 murders).
• Children become less sensitive to the pain and
  suffering of others.

18
TV and Violence

• Children may become more fearful of the world
  around them.
• Children may be more likely to behave in
  aggressive or harmful ways toward others.
• However, the overall violence figures among kids
  is falling. The number of children under the age
  of 17 who commit murder is 65 percent lower than
  it was in 1993.

19
TV and Shame

• We like to watch other people being humiliated.
• American Idol
• Jerry Springer
• The Bachelor/Bachelorette
• Trading Spouse

20
Theories of Media Effects

• Hypodermic Needle Theory -- propaganda
• Limited Effects Theory -- persuasion --
  reinforces existing conditions
• Specific Effects Theory -- media compete and
  complement other sources of influence