Tag:

Watching Tv

TV, Violence & Children: More Weak Pediatrics Studies

by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. 7/3/2024

TV, Violence & Children: More Weak Pediatrics Studies Did you know that simply watching TV causes harm to children? Well, that’s what the American Academy of Pediatrics would have you believe. And yet, here we are in the sixth decade since TV became popular, and we have not yet seen the end of the world based upon multiple generations that grew up with television as a mainstay.

The latest issue of Pediatrics has two studies — and a bonus editorial! — that suggests television viewing by children is associated with greater criminality and antisocial personality, and that a child’s behavior can be modified by simply changing what they’re watching.

Pediatrics is the mouthpiece for the American Academy of Pediatrics. And while it’s ostensibly an objective, scientific journal, it continually publishes weak research — especially on the effects of TV and children.

Let’s check out the latest…

7/3/2024 3 comments

Bummer, The World Didn’t End: Now What?

by Daniel Tomasulo, Ph.D. 11/11/2023

written by Daniel Tomasulo, Ph.D.

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.”

~Richard Bach

If I owned a restaurant I would have the morning after brunch special for Sunday, May 22.Â It would, of course, be called The Day After Brunch, in honor of the day most of us knew would come –in spite of the media frenzy.Â The meal would be a chance to celebrate and cope.

On the menu?

Eggs benedict, for those who felt betrayed by the hype.
Glazed donuts for those who really didn’t see it coming.
A Forgiveness Frittata for anyone needing to absolve themselves or others.
And, yes, you are allowed to groan when you hear this, but the drink of the day would be: Orange Juice glad the world didn’t end?

If you are reading this the end of the world hasn’t taken place.Â Of course we could start looking for a date to plan the next end of the world, but perhaps there is a better use of our time and effort. This is an excellent time for the 3 Rs — reflect, recommit, and restore. Take the time to reappraise yourself, get on track with goals, and prune the things (and people) from your life that aren’t working for you.Â Each of these suggestions is supported by the new research in positive psychology.

More of what you want, less of what you don’t. Sustainable positive change comes about slowly.Â Start thinking about increasing the activities and events you want more of in your life, and decreasing the things you want less of.Â No absolutes.Â Less sugar, more protein; fewer work commitments, more time with loved ones; more time exercising, less time watching TV, you get the idea.

11/11/2023 3 comments

How Well Do You Multitask Between the TV and the Computer?

by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. 10/20/2023

written by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

How Well Do You Multitask Between the TV and the Computer? Many of us do it and think it doesn’t hurt anything — we multitask between watching television and working on the computer, whether it’s surfing the web, posting an update to Facebook or Twitter, or uploading our latest photos to Flickr. We multitask on the computer, with the TV on in the background, and believe we are “watching” TV.

But are we really? How much multitasking are we really doing, and how much do we think we’re doing? How often are we switching between tasks over the course of 30 minutes? Take a guess right now. Do you switch your attention 20 times while watching a TV show? 40 times?

Keep going.

Researchers found the average amount of attention switching done in their study was 120 times in one 27.5 minute period. That averages out to more than 4 times a minute. That’s 4 times a minute your brain is trying to switch gears and make sense out of a new set of visual (and auditory) stimuli.

What else did the researchers find out?

10/20/2023 5 comments

Create Your Own Mental Disorder

by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. 10/19/2022

written by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

Unbelievably, we reported earlier this week that 1 in 12 teens may be addicted to video games. I say “unbelievably” because the research that comes to this stunning conclusion lacked a certain… validity.

As Dr. Cheryl Olson noted succinctly on Game Politics:

The concern here is labeling normal childhood behaviors as “pathological” and “addicted.” The author [Iowa State University’s Prof. Douglas Gentile] is repurposing questions used to assess problem gambling in adults; however, lying to your spouse about blowing the rent money on gambling is a very different matter from fibbing to your mom about whether you played video games instead of starting your homework.

So in other words, you can create your own Instant Mental Disorder ™ by simply repurposing the criteria for pathological gambling for any behavior you find might be potentially “addicting.” Don’t believe me? This is exactly how “Internet addiction” was created nearly 13 years ago (and it still is no closer to being valid despite the passage of time because of its conflicting diagnostic criteria and poor sampling).

Instant Mental Disorder

We’ve made it easy for you to create your own Instant Mental Disorder ™ — just like real researchers do! — by printing and filling out the below form. Try words or phrases like “reading” or “socializing with friends/family” or “watching TV” or “following favorite sports team” to see how effectively this IMD applies to so many people in your life!

In order to be diagnosed, you only need to match 5 or more of the following criteria:

1. Preoccupation:

The person is preoccupied with ________________ and has frequent thoughts about ________________, planning the next time spent doing ___________________, or thinking of ways to do more of ____________________, etc.

2. Tolerance:

Similar to drug tolerance, the person needs to ________________ with increasing amounts of (time/effort/money) in order to achieve the desired excitement or “rush.”

3. Loss of Control:

The person has made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop __________________.

4. Withdrawal:

The person is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop _________________.

5. Escape:

The person ______________ as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression).

6. Chasing:

After losing (time/money/something else) _______________, the person often returns another day to get even.

7. Lying:

Lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with __________________.

8. Illegal Activity:

The person has committed illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance __________________.

9. Risked Relationships:

The person has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of _________________.

10. Bailout:

Relies on others, such as friends or family, to provide (money/excuses/help) to relieve a desperate situation caused by _________________.

11. Mania:

The behavior isn’t better explained by a manic episode.

Scored 5 or more on this? Congratulations! You now meet the diagnostic criteria for being Addicted to _________________. Get thyself to a Center for Treatment of ______________ Addiction today!

10/19/2022 18 comments