REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY, V 6 - VULNERABILITY TO MEDIA EFFECTS - CANADA

• NCJ Number: 45866
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 415 pages
• Corporate Author: Royal Cmssn on Violence of the Communications Industry
• Sale Source: Ontario Government Book Store
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: VOLUME SIX OF SEVEN

Annotation

EFFECTS OF TELEVISION ON CHILDREN, ON FAMILY UNITS, ON PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISORDERS, ON THOSE IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND ON VIEWERS IN GENERAL ARE PROBED IN A SERIES OF SPECIAL STUDIES.

Abstract

IN THIS SIXTH VOLUME IN A SERIES OF SEVEN, THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY FOCUSES UPON THE EFFECTS OF TELEVISED VIOLENCE ON SPECIAL SUBGROUPS IN CANADA. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MORE CHILDREN THERE ARE IN A FAMILY, THE MORE AGGRESSION THERE WILL BE IN THE FAMILY BOTH OVER WHICH PROGRAMS TO BE WATCHED AND AS A RESULT OF PROGRAMS. ALSO, CHILDREN FROM LARGE FAMILIES TEND TO EQUATE TELEVISION WITH REALITY. THE MORE CHILDREN IDENTIFY WITH VICTIMS ON TELEVISION AND THE MORE THEY FEEL THE PROGRAM REFLECTS REALITY, THE MORE THEY WANT TO BELIEVE THAT THE POLICE ARE STRONG AND SMART AND WILL PUNISH THE VILLAIN. QUESTIONNAIRES GIVEN TO PARENTS ALSO INDICATED THAT TELEVISION VIOLENCE MADE CHILDREN MORE EXCITED AND MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GO TO SLEEP. THE STUDY OF MENTALLY DISTURBED PATIENTS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL DISORDER AND NUMBER OF 'SOAP OPERAS' WATCHED, BUT NO SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL DISORDER AND EITHER CRIME DRAMAS OR COMEDIES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE CARTHESIS INVOLVED IN WATCHING THE PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF OTHERS PLAYS A PART. THE STUDIES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOUND THAT THESE VIEWERS ARE MORE CRITICAL OF CRIME SHOWS AND LESS INFLUENCED BY THEM THAN ARE CITIZENS IN GENERAL. THEIR DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MAY BE A KEY FACTOR. ALSO, INMATES TEND TO WATCH TELEVISION BECAUSE OF BOREDOM, NOT BECAUSE IT IS THE ACTIVITY OF CHOICE. IN GENERAL, IT WAS FOUND THAT TELEVISION PROGRAMS HAVE THE GREATEST VIEWER IMPACT WHEN THE WATCHER IDENTIFIES WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER. THE MORE 'REAL' THE PROGRAM, THE GREATER THE IMPACT. EACH STUDY IS REPORTED IN DETAIL. THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED AND STUDY METHODOLOGY ARE APPENDED FOR EACH SURVEY. FOR VOLUMES 1-5 AND 7, SEE NCJ 45861-45865 AND 45867. (GLR)