Big World, Small Screen

by Huston, Aletha C.; Zuckerman, Diana; Wilcox, Brian L.; Donnerstein, Ed; Fairchild, Halford

• ISBN13: 9780803272637
• ISBN10: 0803272634
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1992-12-01
• Publisher: Univ of Nebraska Pr

Summary

Winner of the American Psychological Association's Award for Distinguished Contribution to Psychology and the Media"Thought-provoking."-New Orleans Times-Picayune. "Comprehensive, well-researched."-Ottawa Citizen. "A massive five-year . . . study of the effects of television on American society. It's a study worth more than a 45-second spot on the nightly news."-Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph.Big World, Small Screen assesses the influence of television on the lives of the most vulnerable and powerless in American society: children, ethnic and sexual minorities, and women. Many in these groups are addicted to television, although they are not the principal audiences sought by commercial TV distributors because they are not the most lucrative markets for advertisers.This important book illustrates the power of television in stereotyping the elderly, ethnic groups, gays and lesbians, and the institutionalized and, thus, in contributing to the self-image of many viewers. They go on to consider how television affects social interaction, intellectual functioning, emotional development, and attitudes (toward family life, sexuality, and mental and physical health, for example). They illustrate the medium's potential to teach and inform, to communicate across nations and cultures-and to induce violence, callousness, and amorality. Par-ents will be especially interested in what they say about television viewing and children. Finally, they offer suggestions for research and public policy with the aim of producing programming that will enrich the lives of citizens all across the spectrum.Nine psychologists, members of the Task Force on Television and Society appointed by the American Psychological Association, have collabo-rated on Big World, Small Screen.

Author Biography

Nine psychologists, members of the Task Force on Television and Society appointed by the American Psychological Association, have collaborated on Big World, Small Screen.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction	1	(9)
1 How People Use Television	10	(11)
2 Television Images and Their Effects	21	(14)
3 Emotions and Social Behavior	35	(28)
4 Educational and Persuasive Influences of Television	63	(19)
5 The Television Medium	82	(16)
6 The Television-Viewing Environment	98	(16)
7 Economics of Television and Public Policy	114	(16)
8 Summary and Conclusion	130	(17)
References	147	(34)
About the Authors	181	(2)
Author Index	183	(8)
Subject Index	191