Effect Of Modern Television On Our Perception Of Love?
Television has become an integral part of modern day-to-day life. People can not spend even a day without watching television. It's not only a source of entertainment, a recent study suggests that television shows are affecting how people perceive romance and changing how they behave in relationships. Television shows and characters have a deep influence on people in modern days and it also shapes their personality and beliefs to some extent. Individuals who grew up watching television may often feel closer to their favorite TV character than they do to their family members.
Media scholars have been worrisome and amused for decades about the effects of television on people’s emotional and intellectual development. Everyone knows that television shows are scripted and are made for entertainment purposes, but people are buying into the fictional depiction of love and relationships subconsciously. Television has changed people’s love expectations.
Every television drama or sitcom has a similar kind of pattern in its plot. At first, there is tension building between the two lead characters. Sometimes they outwardly despise one another; sometimes they acknowledge an attraction but are kept apart by jobs, spouses, the fear of ruining a friendship, or other situations outside of their control. But despite their character or profession, the viewers become convinced that they are soulmates, and their story arc keeps the public coming back day after day. The television fan board even has a term for them: OTP, the “One True Pairing.” And once these soulmates come together, the scriptwriters require to look out for new ways to spice things up.
Romantic beliefs that people hold usually depend on the types of media messages they are exposed to, media can affect what sorts of ideals people can have about romantic relationships.
Researchers from The University of Michigan conducted a study on 625 college students out of which 392 were females, to determine how movies and TV shows were influencing their live lives. Participants were given a list of 93 romantic movies and 17 sitcoms, such as “500 Days of Simmer”, “Crazy Stupid Love”, “How I Met Your Mother” and “Big Bang Theory” and were asked how many they have seen and how often. They were also asked if and how often they watch marriage-themed reality shows such as “Millionaire Matchmaker” as well. Researchers then analyzed the student's beliefs about love and also gauged whether or not they believed that TV depiction of real life or just saw it as fantasy.
The research studies indicated that more exposure to romantic movies or TV shows is associated with a stronger belief that “love finds a way” and overcomes all obstacles. Higher exposure to marriage-themed reality TV shows is associated with belief in “love at first sight” and “true love” that will be nearly perfect or ideal.
Therefore, the research suggested that the behaviors depicted in every entertainment genre are imprinted into our views of romance.
People understand the difference between television and reality, but frequent TV watching can lead to unrealistic expectations about relationships and love. Studies show that people who watched more TV were more likely to have negative views towards marriage. The researchers hypothesized that because viewers saw so few depictions of a happy marriage on TV, they may have begun to question it as a way of life. Collagen students who watched the most reality dating shows were more likely to express negative attitudes towards dating and embrace stereotypes about dating and relationships.
TV programs depict love as either too good to be true or the worst emotion anyone can have. They are far from reality and effects the viewer's ideology about love, especially the younger generation. It changes their perception of love and creates scenarios in their head that they possibly never encounter in life. The unrealistic approach of characters to a situation makes the viewer think that they should also behave like their favorite character in real life. It gives rise to social misbehavior. Male viewers often think that they can approach any girl like the protagonist in a TV show and she would accept. But that is not the scenario in real life and when the girl refuses he can not stand it and sometimes takes drastic measures to get what he wants. It is associated with the stronger belief that “everything is fair in love.”
There is an over-exaggeration of romance: the flowers, fancy candlelight dinners, and exotic vacations. It’s critical to value romance. Small things like holding hands are what keep it going in real life. The portrayal of romance and love in TV shows generates false hope in viewers' heads and can mess up their real life.
TV shows depict the lover as a flawless person which creates an idealized version of how someone should be in a person’s head. It can higher their expectorations from their respective partner and when not met problems starts.
People should quit looking for someone perfect in every way. Everyone is perfect in their way. Look for someone whose goals and values align with yours. Love is accepting each other’s flaws and talents.