Psychology 409, October 30, 2006
TV a Tool for Learning
by your Lida Atkinson
Instructions
for this activity are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/g25-oral1.htm
Instructor: Dr. Leon
James
Drivers Behaving Badly on TV, Movies,
Cartoons, Music Videos, Car Commercials: DBB Ratings from the
Generational Curriculum (1997)
(a) www.drdriving.org/articles/dbb.htm (movies
only)
(b) www.drdriving.org/articles/dbb.htm
(cartoons only)
(c) www.drdriving.org/articles/dbb.htm
(commercials only)
We
have discussed how a parent can influence the developing driver personality of
a child, but there are other, less obvious, influences on children. The media
has an enormous influence on children, because of the time that is spent
watching. Children average 4 hours of TV consumption a day while in the same
day they spend less than an hour with their mother. Movies, cartoons, and
commercials are providing our children with the foundations of their driver
personality. Dr. James suggests that we use his Evaluation Activity Sheet for
Drivers Behaving Badly (DBB)
1. Use bad driving on TV as learning tool for children
a. Watch bad drivers on TV
b. Keep a journal of observations
c. Discuss with teachers or parents
2. The Evaluation Activity Sheet for Drivers Behaving
Badly (DBB)
a. Drivers Behaving Badly
i.
In the first
column list the observed bad behavior of a particular TV show
ii.
The second
column is for the source and date observed
iii.
The last column
is for evaluations of the behavior
1. List who the show is targeting (i.e. children,
adults)
2. describe the influence of the behavior, how might it
affect the children watching the behavior
3. I would add to this a section a suggestion of
behavior that would be both safe and entertaining to replace the bad behavior
3. DBB’s from prior generations
a. Rudy Dolfo’s evaluation of 101 Dalmatians found at http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/459f97/dolfo/dolforeport1.html#101
i.
He watch this
Disney cartoon10/1/97 on video
ii.
A scene in which
Cruella Deville chases a truck with her limousine. The bad behavior is
identified as trying to run the truck off the road by side swiping, tailgating,
and ramming the truck. Also identified is high speed and lack of situational
awareness.
iii.
The analysis concludes
that the scene may persuade children that driving angry is acceptable behavior
b. Evaluation of a Goodyear tire commercial on TV by Kristy
Kato found at http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/459ss97/kristyk/report1.html#2
i.
The commercial
was viewed on 7/17/97
ii.
The scene is a
sedan traveling fast down a wet road and a truck traveling the opposite
direction. Both vehicles are going fast around corners
iii.
The analysis of
the commercial is that the commercial may teach children that with the right
tires they can speed in bad weather rather than slow down
Conclusion:
I
have no doubt that the media has an influential effect on children, but I
believe that it is the parents that determine whether the influence is good or
bad. Drivers behaving badly on TV can be used as a talking point for parents
and children. Using the DBB’s can allow parents to understand their children
impressions from movies, cartoons, and commercials. Armed with this
information, parents can mold there children into supportive drivers.
Links:
http://www.aap.org/family/tv1.htm.
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/
Family.org is a web site of focus on the family. Includes many articles on the
effects of media on children, as well as parental influence
My Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2006/atkinson/atkinson-home.htm
Class Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/classhome-g25.htm