How does tv and movies and tv influence people’s behavior?

From movies and tv shows, to YouTube videos and videogames, the consumption of
entertainment in an audiovisual form has fully integrated itself into most people’s lives over the
course of the past century, completely overshadowing most other forms of entertainment.
While the question of tv and movies influence on us can be tackled from many different angles,
before anything against or in favor of it can be said, first it’s necessary to explain why it is
assumed that there is any influence whatsoever.

Exposition.

Whether we are aware of it or not, everything that we’re exposed to in our lives exercises an
influence over ourselves. It plays into the thoughts we think, the emotions we feel, and
ultimately, the decisions we make; From the parents that raised us, to the food that we eat, and
the stories we hear. This happens because our minds function like an all-registering machine, a
machine that’s permanently registering all the information present in our experience that it can
make sense of, and it does this both consciously and subconsciously. Our thinking mind, or
conscious mind, registers all the information that’s relevant to it and represents the most value
or urgency, and upon which attention and focus is mainly put on. The rest of the information,
the one that’s in the background so to speak, the one that doesn’t get to catch the attention of
the thinking conscious mind, is then processed by the subconscious mind through being
inputted by any of the sense organs. All of this information gathering later helps to reinforce
and mold the map of data from which we formulate new thoughts and questions, which
influences our opinions and worlds views, which influences our feelings, which influences our
behavior, at least given the presumption that we operate primarily from emotions. And within
the group of things that we can be exposed to and influenced by, is of course, television,
movies, and all other forms of audiovisual media.
Monkey see, monkey do.

Over twenty years ago, a team of scientists, led by Giacomo Rizzolatti at the University of
Parma, discovered special brain cells, called mirror neurons, in monkeys. These cells appeared
to be activated both when the monkey did something itself and when the monkey simply
watched another monkey do the same thing. Mirror neurons have been found to do a number
of things including giving us the ability to decide facial expressions, whether observing or
making it ourselves, the same regions of the brain become active. The discovery of these
neurons could be linked to a tendency that exists in human psychology to replicate the things
that we’re exposed to the most. This could explain why when you’re first getting to know
somebody, and start to constantly spend time with them, you slowly begin to integrate their
mannerisms into yours. This could explain why when you move to a new city you eventually
begin to catch on to the accent without realizing so. And this could also explain why the
children of soccer players have a statistically higher chance of ending up playing soccer
themselves, and the same goes for movie stars, musicians, etc.

Violence and crime

A good majority of popular films and tv shows involve themes of violence and crime, and while
most kids wouldn’t directly consider the idea of committing an act of violence or crime just out
of watching it on a screen, the constant exposure and normalization of such themes could
exercise an influence for negative behavior. Most can understand that the things they see on a
movie or tv show are fiction (though not necessarily) played by professional actors, and that the
themes depicted there aren’t necessarily approved by the people behind it. Regardless, same as
with constantly watching crime and murder on the news, watching it on audiovisual works of
fiction could certainly play a part in our day to day psychology. And some would argue too that
for people who might already have a predisposition for committing acts of violence, watching it
being enacted, and sometimes glorified on a film or show could be reinforcing such behaviors.
Time investment

Another point of view for television and movies influence is simply that it represents a time
investment. A repeated consumption of such media creates habit and, in some cases, addiction,
which could influence a person’s social behavior, for If a person becomes addicted to movies
and television, they would be spending hours in front of the TV, and therefore neglecting so
many other significant issues in their life.

Escapism

It can be argued that a significant number of people consume movies and television to such a
degree that it becomes a form of escapism, ejecting themselves out of real life and its often-
difficult situations and immersing in a more appealing world of fiction. This could lead to several
psychological consequences such as difficulty relating and forming relationships with other
people, and not being able to handle complicated real-life situations adequately, which
ultimately leads to social consequences.

Positive influence

However, it doesn't all have to be bad, for audiovisual media taken in a moderated dose could
represent a healthy form of entertainment in some people’s lives, maybe even a way of
relaxation. For artistically minded people it could be a direct source of inspiration, and
depending on the material that you watch, a trigger for reflection upon our own lives. Others
might like to increase their knowledge in various subjects by watching educational movies and
documentaries.
Conclusions

Most certainly, there exists an influence from movies and television on our behavior, and there
are many nuances to it. It comes as a doubled edged sword for in negative cases, media can
lead to addiction, time waste and escapism, but in a positive light, consumed wisely with
consideration, it can be used as a way to better ourselves. Like all tools, the fault or reward is
not to the tool itself, but to the one who uses it, and the way they use it.

References:

[1] https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/monkey-see-monkey-do-the-role-of-
mirror-neurons-in-human-behavior.html

[2] https://studymoose.com/how-do-movies-or-television-influence-peoples-behavior-essay

[3] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1972/10/how-do-movies-and-tv-
influence-behavior?lang=eng