As we discussed in
my media class this week, children can learn from television, anything
from vocabulary words to prosocial
behavior to aggression. A meta-analysis of prosocial behavior in media revealed
that aggressive prosocial behavior, such as the hero beating up bad guys to
save the world, was the worst influence on children, as it related more to
aggression than prosocial behavior.
A show that me and
my husband really like (his favorite in fact) is Avatar the Last Airbender.
We've started re-watching the series again recently, and as I was watching last
night after having this discussion in my class, I realized that children could learn
some very prosocial behavior such as helping others, getting along, etc., but
there were negative things I hadn't noticed before.
I saw how aggressive
prosocial behavior is related to plain aggression as I watched the good
characters in the show beat up the bad guys that were after them, steal
something from people who stole it in the first place, and destroy innocent
bystander's goods for their own purposes without retribution. Don't get me
wrong, it's still a great show and we love it, but the discussion on aggressive
prosocial behavior opened my eyes to what is really in the shows children are
watching.
That's a great observation. I will start to be more aware too.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to open our eyes to new observations isn't it? Your post makes me think of my idea and thoughts at the beginning of the week. I think it will be interesting to help my own kids one day choose the media they watch. I don't ever want to say to my kids "sorry honey this is a mommy daddy big kids show." If it is not for little kids is it really for "big kids" Are we are adults as immune to media's influences as we think we are?? Obviously there is a balance but If there is so much good media to admire why spend so much time with the bad.
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