Who are the main characters and what types of models do they represent?
The shows that I observed both have many important characters so I will focus on the on the most recently watched episodes.
ER is based around a busy metropolitan hospital emergency room recently the major characters have been Dr Susan Lewis, Dr Luka Kovac and Nurse Abby Lockhart. Dr Lewis has befriended an elderly patient setting a good example of social behaviour with older persons. Dr Kovac has focused on treating patient efficiently without excessively charging patients, this sets a model of compassion and generosity. Nurse Lockhart has decided to go back to medical school displaying commitment and determination.
Aimed at a more mature audience not all the models in the show are easily placed as either positive or negative and it is actions that are worthy of respect that I felt the most effective from ER.
The Simpsons main cast are Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa Simpson and in each episode some moral or message can usual be interpreted amongst the humour and outlandish situations. Homer is the kind heart sloth who does the right thing when shown the error of his ways. Bart is the young mischief maker who demands attention and always ends up in trouble. Marge is the suburban housewife struggling to curb the behaviour of her husband and son while also not neglecting her daughters. Lisa is a young intelligent girl and shows how hard work and honesty achieves good results. Lisa also acts as the conscience of the family letting the viewers share the lesson learned during the show. The Simpsons does model negative behaviour like violence, alcoholism, mockery of peers and bullying. Adults watching the show would have little difficulty see that these are used to create humour but a young child could easily replicate something observed on The Simpsons without thinking of the consequences.
Can you detect any differences in the models presented to girls and to boys?
From my perspective I found it difficult label any of the models observed to be particularly focused at either males or females. I found the models to be more universal in nature that solely focused on one gender.
How do you feel, as a viewer, in response to the kinds of models portrayed in these programs?
Usually when watching television it is for entertainment and relaxation and have rarely analysed the content as greatly as I did for the programs in this assignment. Each show offered differing models that could be observed, reflected upon and then either accepted or discarded. The shows have many models that viewers might relate to and positive model help by showing success under adversity. Examples being coping with the hardship of being a single parent, having a difficult work environment or dealing with a school ground bully. Usually the shows that people watch will have some theme or message that the creators are trying to pass on to their audience. A well made show will be able to pass positive influences and highlight but not support negatives like child abuse and violence.
What are the positive and negative aspects of television as a social influence on children and adults?
Television is great source of observed social interaction and behaviour that effect adults and children. Unfortunately not all models of behaviour are positive to healthy development and while adults are effected by television it is children who are most at risk of being negatively influence as they lack the skills to separate bad models from good. Modelling is learning through observing others but young children don’t first say is this good or bad they just copy (Peterson, 1996).
Positive models can provide models of accepted social behaviour, expanded the world beyond the viewers immediate environment, encourage learning with motivating educational programs.
Negative models can create passive learners from viewers, teach stereotyping, display violent models that influence aggression and can lead to unrealistic views of the world (Santrock, 1999).
References
Peterson, C. (1996). Looking Forward through the Lifespan, Developmental Psychology. Third Edition. Prentice Hall Australia Pty Ltd. Sydney.
Reber, A.S. & Reber, E. (2001). The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology. Third Edition. Penguin Books Australia Ltd. Australia.
Santrock, J.W. (1999). Life-Span Development. Seventh Edition. McGraw Hill College.
Vialle, W., Lysaght, P. & Verenikina, I. (2002). Handbook on Child Development. Social Science Press. Tuggerah.
