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Negative Effects of American Sitcoms on Teenagers
Submitted to: Dr. Anju Kapoor
Submitted by:
Rheya Hemrajani (09)
Tripti Nagpal (25)
Shivangi Wadhwa (47)
Sargam Arora (65)
Monisha Ramani (117)
Topic: Negative Effects of American Sitcoms on Teenagers
Contents:
01. Abstract
02. Introduction
03. Method
04. Result
05. Discussion
06. Conclusion
07. Reference
01. Abstract
American Sitcoms have become a fundamental aspect of the lives of teenagers today. The influences of these sitcoms play a vital role in moulding concepts of personal identity, thought processes, priorities and their view towards everything. As the world is becoming more technologically advanced, human beliefs and standards of life are strongly effected by what they see on television. The influence of American Sitcoms is to such a great extent in everyone’s lives that people shape their thoughts and way of life accordingly. These sitcoms have an underlying effect on the culture that is around us today. They play a major role in setting social norms and ethics. Teenagers today spend a considerable amount of time watching television and thus, are more prone to the negative effects of American Sitcoms.
Surveys containing 15 questions were distributed among teenagers in different schools and colleges all over the city. Interviews were conducted amongst parents and teachers. Based on their opinions and views regarding the negative effects of American sitcoms on teenagers, conclusions were drawn. Research showed that viewing American Sitcoms resulted in negative changes in the lifestyle, behaviour and social relationships of these teenagers. Thus, the conclusion drawn was that American Sitcoms have a negative impact on teenagers.
02. Introduction
Unquestionably, the television has a huge impact on the human race. Without this means of communication, our lives would be much more remote than where we are today. The young urban Indian, who for several years had to make do with the dull fare dished out by one television channel, suddenly had the 'free' world in his living room. The television has helped broaden horizons and changed our perception and outlook. Our passions, time and even our personal freedoms are sacrificed to the glowing tube day after day without us being aware of it.
American Sitcoms have become so ubiquitous so fast that most of us don’t realize the changes it has wrought in our culture. These sitcoms have become a staple fare that is here to stay. Without a doubt, they are altering the fabric of the lives of teenagers today. Whether teenagers accept it or not, American Sitcoms have their ill effects. From changes in lifestyle, to the way they speak, behave and dress - most of it is inspired by what they see on television. It is likely that social relationships are affected and traditional family values are hampered. American Sitcoms could lead to a disinterest in studies & thus affect one of the major parts of a teenager's life. Sitcoms today have negatively affected the way teenagers think & lead their lives and there couldn't be a bigger impact than this.
(i) Threat to family values
Nowadays, television threats to the maintenance of traditional family values. Teenagers spend less time with their family, as they are busy watching television. Sitcoms have become the third parent for teenagers, as they are willing to spend the rest of their day watching television rather than spending time with family. Research showed that parent-child relationships were stronger before the advent of American Sitcoms. Unfortunately, old values are slowly slipping away and new ones, established by these sitcoms, are taking their place amongst teenagers.
Another emerging trend is the idea of 'moving out'. In India, where family ties and values are very strong, the concept of moving out of one's parents' home was alien. However, today, with increased financial independence and popular culture that stresses autonomy, it has become increasingly common. The biggest example would be the setting of the American Sitcom ‘Friends’, which revolves around six friends living together and leading life on their own terms.
(ii) Change in lifestyle
Research shows that 14 out of 15 individuals would prefer to stay home watching sitcoms rather than going out to play in the open. It is evident from this fact that sitcoms have taken over simple joys of teenage life.
In addition to this, another lifestyle change is observed wherein teenagers face concentration issues. It is observed that watching American Sitcoms lead to a considerable disinterest in studies as teenagers always want to catch up on each episode and follow the series. This hampers their academics – the main focus of a teenager’s life.
American sitcoms have had a considerable impact on popular culture in urban India, from socializing to fashion and even language. As Central Perk is to ‘Friends’, Coffee Day and Barista is to teenagers today. Cafés are the coolest places to be for teens. Apart from lounging over a cup of coffee, they would rather sit to do their homework in a café.
American sitcoms mirror all the latest fashion trends and hip brands, which are a huge draw for fashion conscious and brand crazy teenagers. Research found that teenagers have become a victim of the ‘bandwagon’ effect. It is observed that they imitate what they see on television. These sitcoms create a larger-than-life portrayal. For instance, it is not uncommon to find teenage boys imitating Charlie Harper's signature look of a bowling shirt and shorts from the American sitcom ‘Two and a Half Men’.
Another major change in lifestyle seen would be alcohol and drug abuse. For instance, in sitcoms like ‘Two and a half Men’, Charlie’s character exposes teenagers to smoking, drinking and drugs. These go against Indian principles and morals. The western way of culture and norms thus influence teenagers to a large extent.
(iii) Change in outlook
The media manipulates the minds of teenagers by reinforcing negative stereotypes and idealized body images to be accepted as the norm. Stereotypes are inevitable in American Sitcoms. Stereotyped characters negatively influence the way teenagers view real people in society. More often than not, sitcoms tend to stereotype genders and racial groups, in a negative way. There have been many instances of racism identified in sitcoms like Family Guy, Simpsons and How I Met Your Mother. For instance, Barney Stinson’s character in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ is highly racist towards the citizens of Canada and India.
This negative stereotype is what teenagers remember when they hear someone speak with a similar accent. They have also clearly portrayed stereotypical Asian features such as small eyes, buckteeth and very heavy accents and are depicted as sinister, cunning and manipulative. Teenagers who watch large amounts of television shows begin to view these people negatively in real life. They base their opinions on how they see these groups on television. The media also creates racial stereotypes by displaying minorities as subordinate to what the media considers the majority. Prolonged exposure to stereotypes can lead to the development of social prejudice and feelings of inequality amongst teenagers.
Research suggests that sitcoms may influence the development of negative self-esteem in teenagers through messages about body image. Girls in early adolescence are particularly vulnerable to messages dictated by these shows, about what is considered attractive, as they are sensitive about their body image and whether they measure up to their peers. Recent research indicates that there is a marked link between TV watching, and negative body and eating disorders.
Sitcoms like ‘Friends’ and ‘How I Met Your Mother’ often show characters with unrealistic perfect bodies, which encourage teenagers to have body image issues. The characters in these sitcoms convey that people who are over weight (fat) can never get married or can never find love, whereas people who are thin can find love instantly. This image is not realistic or even attractive to some, yet the desires to imitate what teenagers see remains prominent. Not only do these sitcoms glorify a slender ideal, they also emphasize the importance of appearances in general. Even if teens know that what they see is not normal or not real, it can still have a significant impact on their self-esteem and nutritional health. Prolonged exposure to surreal body images can lead to periods of depression, low self-esteem or even eating disorders that may become permanent if not noticed over time.
(iv) Change in behaviour
There are continued concerns that have been found due to severe exposure of violence in sitcoms. This in turn causes increased levels of aggression and violence in teenagers. Research suggests that the evidence linking violence to aggressive behavior is stronger than the evidence linking smoking to lung cancer. Violence, homicide, suicide and trauma are the leading causes of death for teenagers.
Effects of violence on teenagers: They desire to see more violence in entertainment and real life, and view it as an acceptable way to settle conflicts. While most adults realize that TV violence is fabricated, teenagers are more vulnerable. Teenagers who identify with aggressive heroes are more likely to be more aggressive. They believe that violence is effective, courageous, socially acceptable and rewarded and they get caught in the aggression cycle. These aggressive acts lead to a heightened arousal of the viewer's aggressive tendencies; bringing feelings, thoughts and memories to consciousness and can cause outwardly aggressive behavior.
For instance: Bart’s rebellious nature, which frequently resulted in no punishment for his misbehavior, led some parents and conservatives to characterize him as a poor role model for children. In schools, educators claimed that Bart Simpson was a “threat to learning” because of his “underachiever and proud it” attitude regarding his education. Others describe him as “egoistical, aggressive and mean-spirited. In a 1991 interview, Bill Cosby described Bart as a bad role model for children, calling him “angry, confused and frustrated”.
Research shows that American Sitcoms have negatively affected the language used by teenagers today. For instance, Barney Stinson’s character in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ uses a lot of slang and abusive language that creates an impression in the minds of the teens that it is okay to swear. His concept of ‘Bros before Hoes’ has become very popular amongst teens and the slang term ‘bro’ has become a part of their everyday vocabulary.
(v) Change in relationships
The immense popularity of American Sitcoms is visible in the changing values in urban India. It has spawned a new culture where several conservative Indian attitudes have taken the back seat. Until a decade back, even a platonic relationship among members of the opposite sex was frowned upon. However, today, with increased exposure to American sitcoms, dating has not only become a common phenomenon amongst teenagers, but also socially accepted. For instance, in sitcoms like ‘Modern Family’, Haley being a teenager has a boyfriend. The concept of ‘dating in your teens’ is given a very casual approach in the sitcom.
Another aspect would be the portrayal of women as ‘objects’ in sitcoms like ‘Two and a half men’ and ‘Friends’. These sitcoms show that it is normal to cheat on your better half, which instills wrong values in the minds of teenagers. For instance, in ‘Two and a half men’, Charlie Sheen’s character is portrayed as a carefree person and a womanizer who dates women just for sex. He has a very casual approach towards his one-night stands, which leaves an impression in the minds of all teenage boys that one-night stands are common and that it is okay to objectify women.
From the concept of ‘moving out’ to coffee culture, from its influences on fashion to its impact on language and behaviour, American Sitcoms have thus made their presence felt in urban India.
03. Method
(i) Description of the sample
Our research problem required us to target teenagers, as they are the main target group who watch American Sitcoms on a daily basis. American Sitcoms have a large fan base amongst the youth and particularly, Indian teenagers. Hence it was best to target teenagers between the age group of 13 to 19 years. A total population of 56 teenagers was taken into account.
(ii) Procedure
The research problem required the researchers to conduct surveys. These surveys reached out to teenagers across the city. Surveys were distributed amongst teenagers in various colleges, gaming centers, malls and coffee shops. The following is how the researchers conducted the Survey method:
01. Do you like American sitcoms?
A. Yes, I do
B. Not very much
C. No, I don’t think so
D. I don't know.
02. How much time do you spend watching sitcoms every day?
A. Less than one hour
B. 2 - 3 hours
C. More than 3 hours
03. What do you like about American Sitcoms?
A. The laughter
B. The adventure
C. The story line
04. Which American Sitcoms do you watch? (You can choose more than one)
A. Friends
B. Modern Family
C. How I met your mother
D. Others____________________.
05. Which is your favorite American Sitcom?
A. Friends
B. Modern Family
C. How I met your mother
D. Others____________________.
06. What’s the best part about your favorite American Sitcom?
A. The characters
B. The plot
C. Other _____________________.
07. Do you think American Sitcoms project violence?
A. Yes, I do
B. Yes, a little bit
C. No, I don’t think so
08. Can watching American sitcoms help you understand the American society?
A. Yes
B. No
09. Do you feel American sitcoms influence on your thinking?
A. Yes, I do
B. No, I don’t
C. I never think of it
10. Do you think Indian values projected in American Sitcoms are different from what they really are?
A. Yes, I do
B. No, I don’t
11. Do you think American Sitcoms have influenced your personality in any way?
A. Yes
B. No
C. I don’t know
12. Would you prefer watching American Sitcoms to other hobbies?
A. Yes
B. No
C. I don’t know
14. Which character from the following American Sitcom do you like the most?
A. Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)
B. Joey Tribianni (Friends)
C. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)
D. Bart Simpson (Simpsons)
E. Rachel Green (Friends)
15. Do American Sitcoms affect your lifestyle in any way?
A. Yes
B. No
In addition to the survey method, the research problem also required interviews to be conducted. Parents of teenagers between the age group of 13 – 19 years were interviewed. School and college teachers across the city were interviewed as well. The following is how the researchers conducted the Interview method:
1. Does your child spend a lot of time watching American Sitcoms?
2. Do you think American Sitcoms have a negative effect on teenagers today? If yes, how?
3. Have you noticed any changes in the behaviour of your students/children because of watching American Sitcoms?
4. Do you think American Sitcoms encourage family values?
5. Do you think American Sitcoms are negatively affecting the lifestyles of teenagers today? If yes, how?
(iii) Description of research
As the target group is 13 -19 years, it becomes imperative to know the opinion of professors and parents. The parents and other respective family members of these teenagers best observe behavioral and lifestyle changes amongst their children. Thus, the researchers opted for an ‘Interview Method’ to know the viewpoints of parents, teachers and other family members. Minute and hidden details of the subject that are not disclosed in the Survey method, can be accessed via Interview Method. The emotional connect which was not possible through the Survey Method, was well observed through the interviews conducted.
With changing times, it is essential to keep up with the existing trends and attitudes of teenagers today. This is best understood by conducting a survey. A large amount of information is collected in a cost-effective way. A considerable amount of people are targeted through a survey. Better results are obtained in a short period of time. Thus, a ‘Survey Method’ was effective in conducting the research.
04. Result
From the surveys conducted, the researchers found the following results:
The below graph shows the percentage of teenagers who watch American Sitcoms. The survey found that 83% of teenagers watch American Sitcoms, whereas 17% of them do not. Thus, a higher percentage of teenagers watch American Sitcoms and are more receptive to its negative effects.
The next graph is a representation of the hours spent by teenagers (from the age group of 13-19 years) watching American Sitcoms. Study found that 50% of teenagers watch more than three hours of American Sitcoms per day. This being the highest, this group is at a higher risk of being prone to the negative effects of teenagers.
Majority of teenagers agreed to the fact that American Sitcoms have become a necessity in their lives. The main reason why they watch American Sitcoms is for the ‘laughter’ quotient. The below graph shows what drives teenagers to watch American Sitcoms.
It was observed that the most popular American Sitcom amongst Indian teenagers is ‘Friends’ because they can relate to the characters and the story plot.
The survey also found that 68% teenagers agreed to the fact that American Sitcoms project violence, whereas 32% thought otherwise.
.
A large percentage of teenagers feel that watching American Sitcoms have given them an insight into American culture and a better understanding of the American society.
A considerable amount of teenagers admit to the changes in their personality and way of thinking as a result of watching American Sitcoms. The next graph shows that 33% of teenagers do admit to the changes that have come about in them, whereas 4% are ignorant about the same.
The below graph shows the percentage of people who prefer watching American Sitcoms to other hobbies. It was noted that 78% of teenagers prefer watching American Sitcoms to other hobbies like dancing, playing, swimming, etc. This clearly proves the lifestyle changes brought about by watching American Sitcoms.
The survey shows that the most popular character amongst teenagers is ‘Joey Tribianni’ from the American Sitcom ‘Friends’. His character is dim-witted, skirt chasing, mostly desperately unemployed and that of a casanova.
The next graph broadly shows the negative effects of American Sitcoms on teenagers. The following are the notable changes found amongst teenagers on account of watching American Sitcoms. Based on the interviews conducted, it was found that 26% of teens have become aggressive, whereas 22% use slang language. Another 18% of teenagers have adopted western values and traditions. It was found that 20% of teenagers' personalities were influenced. 14% of teenagers have experienced a negative change in social relationships.
Following are the views of parents and teachers on American Sitcoms:
Mrs. Gandhi said, “TV shows (Sitcoms) have seemed to replace reading storybooks or playing dress-up as the average teen’s favorite pastime. Clearly, Television is a powerful tool that can alter a teen’s ideas about the world. It can control and even dictate how teenagers in our society view themselves, view others and what role they will choose in handling situations of prejudice, violence and fantasy. Although Sitcoms are not held accountable for its choices in programming, we parents has a choice to choose which programs they will promote and allow their teenagers to view.”
Mrs. Ramani said, “My daughter watches American Sitcoms all day long, which leaves her with very little family time. American sitcoms definitely have a negative impact on the teenagers. It’s seen in their clothes, actions, behavior, language, etc. Now days in India once the children turn eighteen they want to leave the house, which is not a part of our culture and is totally influenced by the American culture. They see all this in the sitcoms and want to do the same. The teenagers want to introduce their boyfriends and girlfriends to their parents, which is not acceptable by all the Indian parents. The teenagers should watch these shows for entertainment and not get influenced by sitcoms.”
Mrs. Wadhwa said, “Yes it does affect a teenager’s mannerisms and perceptions. Their way of thinking is influenced by what they see in these American Sitcoms. In addition to this, Indian family values are hampered. For instance: The way they address their parents so casually. They also get aggressive and don’t take suggestions by parents at face value also contradict statement. Their dressing sense, language also changes For example: Words like ‘Dude’, ‘Yo’, ’Bro’. They grow up faster than their age, trying to act like adults although they are just teens. Get easily influenced and get into relationships at a very young age, they feel that pre marital sex and teenage pregnancy are very common amongst the youth in India. If they just follow the Indian culture they will supersede the American culture.”
Mrs. Avnita Bir, Principal of Podar School said, “ Yes, Sitcoms do have a negative impact on teenagers today. I believe television sitcoms contribute to teenager’s alienation, to a breakdown of their social values, and a distortion of their perceptions of political systems remains fairly ambiguous in the minds of the teen. During the recess in school I hear a lot of my students talking about what they expect will happen in the next episode of the sitcoms they watch. They then end up spending very little time studying and more time watching these sitcoms. These issues are quite apparent. They all address the issue of our culture's ability to effectively integrate succeeding generations into society. Another commonality among these three are, that they focus on essentially long-term consequences of the television sitcoms. They are difficult areas to study, not only in terms of methodology, but also in terms of their required degree of sophisticated theorizing.”
As a result of time constrain the Researchers couldn’t include the ‘Experiment Method’ as a part of the research design.
05. Discussion
This design required us to conduct surveys. These surveys reached out to teenagers in different schools and colleges. As the target group is 13 -19 years it becomes imperative to know the opinion of professors and parents. The parents and other respective family members best observe behavioral and lifestyle changes.
In addition to this, parents are concerned with how these shows and their content influence the healthy development of their teens. TV exposure has been linked to multiple problems in teenagers such as teen obesity, substance use and abuse, sexual behavior and low academic achievement. Sitcoms have become increasingly persuasive in the lives of teenagers and adolescents.
Television draws on an enormous stable of representational traditions and creative personnel, and because the industry has attempted to appeal to large nationwide audiences the medium never presents one simple message. Instead it is in the relations among different programs and genres that we begin to get a view of the range of possibilities.
Earlier America Sitcoms series were good-humored and harmless, but today it often glorifies superficial characteristics such as physical beauty over spiritual strength and thus set a poor example for teenagers, with whom the shows are especially popular.
First, sexuality is pervasive throughout the Western media. From prime time TV sitcoms and dramas to feature films and magazines, the media present countless verbal and visual examples of how dating, intimacy, sex, love, marriage, divorce, and romantic relationships are handled. Content analysis studies have shown that the explicit depiction of sexuality has become more common in popular American television entertainment over the years. For example, a longitudinal analysis of American broadcast and cable channels from 1997‐2002 found that talk about sex was shown more often than sexual behavior, though both types of contents increased significantly during the period under review; for example the percentage of shows portraying sexual intercourse doubled from 7 to 14%. Content analysis of mainstream magazines has also documented increasingly graphic sexual images and messages; for example the discussion of intimate relationships makes the largest category of topics covered In addition to sexual socialization, American Sitcoms may also affect the acquisition of many other broader moral, ethical and religious values.
Despite the pervasiveness of moral and social values in the media, systematic evidence establishing the relative impact of these messages on public opinion is far from conclusive. For example, much social psychological research about the acquisition of sexual attitudes and values has been based on experimental studies conducted among the Indian student population, although it is not clear to what extent it is possible to generalize from this group to other peoples and places. Strong accounts of media effects, including the ‘Cultivation Theory’ developed by Gerbner and colleagues, claim that the frequency of exposure to the American Sitcoms, especially habitually watching many hours of these shows, leads towards the gradual internalization of the messages communicated by the them.
Through lifetime socialization, the media are thought capable of influencing moral standards, especially through the presentation of powerful images of sexuality, love, the family and marriage, the roles of women and men, and the broader treatment of religion and spirituality. Concern about the potential threat to traditional cultures arising from the values contained in Western media, such as the explicit treatment of sexuality in American Sitcoms has risen. In extreme cases, this has led some states to ban or censor the contents, and even in democracies with a long tradition protecting freedom of expression, this concern has encouraged policies restricting access to certain types of media contents, designed to protect adolescents and youth.
The heaviest viewers of the American Sitcoms are generally more liberal towards sexual and moral values, less tolerant of unethical standards of public life, less religious, more liberal in family values, and more open towards the roles of women and men. The strongest interaction concerns sexual and moral values, where greater viewing of Sitcoms within cosmopolitan societies was associated with more liberal and tolerant orientations towards issues such as homosexuality, divorce, and abortion.
As the ‘Uses and Gratification’ theory suggests, people actively choose how to spend their leisure time and how the media can best meet their prior interests and needs, such as for information, entertainment, escape or social interaction. In fact, we believe that a two‐way reciprocal interactive process is probably at work here, where prior motivation determines information exposure and then, in turn, media use reinforces Western cultural values. Researchers need to know what people are typically watching or reading in far more detail – and over a long‐term period to establish cumulative effects.
In keeping with our overall argument, exposure to these Sitcoms is consistently linked with more liberal and open moral and social values. In this regard, viewing of American Sitcoms seems to have an impact similar to that of education and age, reinforcing modern values and more tolerant attitudes. These challenges remain for future research.
06. Conclusion
The research conducted coincides with the Hypothesis that “Viewing American Sitcoms has a negative impact on teenagers”
07. Reference/Appendix
1. Anderson, Daniel R.. "Educational Television is not an Oxymoron." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, Vol. 557, Teenager’s and Television. Chicago: Sage Publications, Inc., 1998. 24-38. Print.
2. Children and Watching TV - AACAP Facts for Families #52. (2001). Retrieved February 19, 2004, from http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/tv.htm
3. Everett, S.C. (1996). Mirage Multiculturalism: Unmasking the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 11(1), 28-39.
4. Huston, A.C. (1998). Television and the Informational and Educational Needs of Children. Annals of the American Academy of Political & Social Science, 557, 9-23.
5. Kent, D. & Moy, S. (1999). How much is too much? Parenting, 13, 1-3.
6. Nathanson, A.I. (1999). Identifying and Explaining the Relationship between Parental Mediation and Children's Aggression. Communication Research, 26(2), 124-143.
7. Scully, S. (1993, August). V Blocker is Easy Chip Shot Away. Broadcasting & Cable, 46.
Submitted to: Dr. Anju Kapoor
Submitted by:
Rheya Hemrajani (09)
Tripti Nagpal (25)
Shivangi Wadhwa (47)
Sargam Arora (65)
Monisha Ramani (117)
Topic: Negative Effects of American Sitcoms on Teenagers
Contents:
01. Abstract
02. Introduction
03. Method
04. Result
05. Discussion
06. Conclusion
07. Reference
01. Abstract
American Sitcoms have become a fundamental aspect of the lives of teenagers today. The influences of these sitcoms play a vital role in moulding concepts of personal identity, thought processes, priorities and their view towards everything. As the world is becoming more technologically advanced, human beliefs and standards of life are strongly effected by what they see on television. The influence of American Sitcoms is to such a great extent in everyone’s lives that people shape their thoughts and way of life accordingly. These sitcoms have an underlying effect on the culture that is around us today. They play a major role in setting social norms and ethics. Teenagers today spend a considerable amount of time watching television and thus, are more prone to the negative effects of American Sitcoms.
Surveys containing 15 questions were distributed among teenagers in different schools and colleges all over the city. Interviews were conducted amongst parents and teachers. Based on their opinions and views regarding the negative effects of American sitcoms on teenagers, conclusions were drawn. Research showed that viewing American Sitcoms resulted in negative changes in the lifestyle, behaviour and social relationships of these teenagers. Thus, the conclusion drawn was that American Sitcoms have a negative impact on teenagers.
02. Introduction
Unquestionably, the television has a huge impact on the human race. Without this means of communication, our lives would be much more remote than where we are today. The young urban Indian, who for several years had to make do with the dull fare dished out by one television channel, suddenly had the 'free' world in his living room. The television has helped broaden horizons and changed our perception and outlook. Our passions, time and even our personal freedoms are sacrificed to the glowing tube day after day without us being aware of it.
American Sitcoms have become so ubiquitous so fast that most of us don’t realize the changes it has wrought in our culture. These sitcoms have become a staple fare that is here to stay. Without a doubt, they are altering the fabric of the lives of teenagers today. Whether teenagers accept it or not, American Sitcoms have their ill effects. From changes in lifestyle, to the way they speak, behave and dress - most of it is inspired by what they see on television. It is likely that social relationships are affected and traditional family values are hampered. American Sitcoms could lead to a disinterest in studies & thus affect one of the major parts of a teenager's life. Sitcoms today have negatively affected the way teenagers think & lead their lives and there couldn't be a bigger impact than this.
(i) Threat to family values
Nowadays, television threats to the maintenance of traditional family values. Teenagers spend less time with their family, as they are busy watching television. Sitcoms have become the third parent for teenagers, as they are willing to spend the rest of their day watching television rather than spending time with family. Research showed that parent-child relationships were stronger before the advent of American Sitcoms. Unfortunately, old values are slowly slipping away and new ones, established by these sitcoms, are taking their place amongst teenagers.
Another emerging trend is the idea of 'moving out'. In India, where family ties and values are very strong, the concept of moving out of one's parents' home was alien. However, today, with increased financial independence and popular culture that stresses autonomy, it has become increasingly common. The biggest example would be the setting of the American Sitcom ‘Friends’, which revolves around six friends living together and leading life on their own terms.
(ii) Change in lifestyle
Research shows that 14 out of 15 individuals would prefer to stay home watching sitcoms rather than going out to play in the open. It is evident from this fact that sitcoms have taken over simple joys of teenage life.
In addition to this, another lifestyle change is observed wherein teenagers face concentration issues. It is observed that watching American Sitcoms lead to a considerable disinterest in studies as teenagers always want to catch up on each episode and follow the series. This hampers their academics – the main focus of a teenager’s life.
American sitcoms have had a considerable impact on popular culture in urban India, from socializing to fashion and even language. As Central Perk is to ‘Friends’, Coffee Day and Barista is to teenagers today. Cafés are the coolest places to be for teens. Apart from lounging over a cup of coffee, they would rather sit to do their homework in a café.
American sitcoms mirror all the latest fashion trends and hip brands, which are a huge draw for fashion conscious and brand crazy teenagers. Research found that teenagers have become a victim of the ‘bandwagon’ effect. It is observed that they imitate what they see on television. These sitcoms create a larger-than-life portrayal. For instance, it is not uncommon to find teenage boys imitating Charlie Harper's signature look of a bowling shirt and shorts from the American sitcom ‘Two and a Half Men’.
Another major change in lifestyle seen would be alcohol and drug abuse. For instance, in sitcoms like ‘Two and a half Men’, Charlie’s character exposes teenagers to smoking, drinking and drugs. These go against Indian principles and morals. The western way of culture and norms thus influence teenagers to a large extent.
(iii) Change in outlook
The media manipulates the minds of teenagers by reinforcing negative stereotypes and idealized body images to be accepted as the norm. Stereotypes are inevitable in American Sitcoms. Stereotyped characters negatively influence the way teenagers view real people in society. More often than not, sitcoms tend to stereotype genders and racial groups, in a negative way. There have been many instances of racism identified in sitcoms like Family Guy, Simpsons and How I Met Your Mother. For instance, Barney Stinson’s character in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ is highly racist towards the citizens of Canada and India.
This negative stereotype is what teenagers remember when they hear someone speak with a similar accent. They have also clearly portrayed stereotypical Asian features such as small eyes, buckteeth and very heavy accents and are depicted as sinister, cunning and manipulative. Teenagers who watch large amounts of television shows begin to view these people negatively in real life. They base their opinions on how they see these groups on television. The media also creates racial stereotypes by displaying minorities as subordinate to what the media considers the majority. Prolonged exposure to stereotypes can lead to the development of social prejudice and feelings of inequality amongst teenagers.
Research suggests that sitcoms may influence the development of negative self-esteem in teenagers through messages about body image. Girls in early adolescence are particularly vulnerable to messages dictated by these shows, about what is considered attractive, as they are sensitive about their body image and whether they measure up to their peers. Recent research indicates that there is a marked link between TV watching, and negative body and eating disorders.
Sitcoms like ‘Friends’ and ‘How I Met Your Mother’ often show characters with unrealistic perfect bodies, which encourage teenagers to have body image issues. The characters in these sitcoms convey that people who are over weight (fat) can never get married or can never find love, whereas people who are thin can find love instantly. This image is not realistic or even attractive to some, yet the desires to imitate what teenagers see remains prominent. Not only do these sitcoms glorify a slender ideal, they also emphasize the importance of appearances in general. Even if teens know that what they see is not normal or not real, it can still have a significant impact on their self-esteem and nutritional health. Prolonged exposure to surreal body images can lead to periods of depression, low self-esteem or even eating disorders that may become permanent if not noticed over time.
(iv) Change in behaviour
There are continued concerns that have been found due to severe exposure of violence in sitcoms. This in turn causes increased levels of aggression and violence in teenagers. Research suggests that the evidence linking violence to aggressive behavior is stronger than the evidence linking smoking to lung cancer. Violence, homicide, suicide and trauma are the leading causes of death for teenagers.
Effects of violence on teenagers: They desire to see more violence in entertainment and real life, and view it as an acceptable way to settle conflicts. While most adults realize that TV violence is fabricated, teenagers are more vulnerable. Teenagers who identify with aggressive heroes are more likely to be more aggressive. They believe that violence is effective, courageous, socially acceptable and rewarded and they get caught in the aggression cycle. These aggressive acts lead to a heightened arousal of the viewer's aggressive tendencies; bringing feelings, thoughts and memories to consciousness and can cause outwardly aggressive behavior.
For instance: Bart’s rebellious nature, which frequently resulted in no punishment for his misbehavior, led some parents and conservatives to characterize him as a poor role model for children. In schools, educators claimed that Bart Simpson was a “threat to learning” because of his “underachiever and proud it” attitude regarding his education. Others describe him as “egoistical, aggressive and mean-spirited. In a 1991 interview, Bill Cosby described Bart as a bad role model for children, calling him “angry, confused and frustrated”.
Research shows that American Sitcoms have negatively affected the language used by teenagers today. For instance, Barney Stinson’s character in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ uses a lot of slang and abusive language that creates an impression in the minds of the teens that it is okay to swear. His concept of ‘Bros before Hoes’ has become very popular amongst teens and the slang term ‘bro’ has become a part of their everyday vocabulary.
(v) Change in relationships
The immense popularity of American Sitcoms is visible in the changing values in urban India. It has spawned a new culture where several conservative Indian attitudes have taken the back seat. Until a decade back, even a platonic relationship among members of the opposite sex was frowned upon. However, today, with increased exposure to American sitcoms, dating has not only become a common phenomenon amongst teenagers, but also socially accepted. For instance, in sitcoms like ‘Modern Family’, Haley being a teenager has a boyfriend. The concept of ‘dating in your teens’ is given a very casual approach in the sitcom.
Another aspect would be the portrayal of women as ‘objects’ in sitcoms like ‘Two and a half men’ and ‘Friends’. These sitcoms show that it is normal to cheat on your better half, which instills wrong values in the minds of teenagers. For instance, in ‘Two and a half men’, Charlie Sheen’s character is portrayed as a carefree person and a womanizer who dates women just for sex. He has a very casual approach towards his one-night stands, which leaves an impression in the minds of all teenage boys that one-night stands are common and that it is okay to objectify women.
From the concept of ‘moving out’ to coffee culture, from its influences on fashion to its impact on language and behaviour, American Sitcoms have thus made their presence felt in urban India.
03. Method
(i) Description of the sample
Our research problem required us to target teenagers, as they are the main target group who watch American Sitcoms on a daily basis. American Sitcoms have a large fan base amongst the youth and particularly, Indian teenagers. Hence it was best to target teenagers between the age group of 13 to 19 years. A total population of 56 teenagers was taken into account.
(ii) Procedure
The research problem required the researchers to conduct surveys. These surveys reached out to teenagers across the city. Surveys were distributed amongst teenagers in various colleges, gaming centers, malls and coffee shops. The following is how the researchers conducted the Survey method:
01. Do you like American sitcoms?
A. Yes, I do
B. Not very much
C. No, I don’t think so
D. I don't know.
02. How much time do you spend watching sitcoms every day?
A. Less than one hour
B. 2 - 3 hours
C. More than 3 hours
03. What do you like about American Sitcoms?
A. The laughter
B. The adventure
C. The story line
04. Which American Sitcoms do you watch? (You can choose more than one)
A. Friends
B. Modern Family
C. How I met your mother
D. Others____________________.
05. Which is your favorite American Sitcom?
A. Friends
B. Modern Family
C. How I met your mother
D. Others____________________.
06. What’s the best part about your favorite American Sitcom?
A. The characters
B. The plot
C. Other _____________________.
07. Do you think American Sitcoms project violence?
A. Yes, I do
B. Yes, a little bit
C. No, I don’t think so
08. Can watching American sitcoms help you understand the American society?
A. Yes
B. No
09. Do you feel American sitcoms influence on your thinking?
A. Yes, I do
B. No, I don’t
C. I never think of it
10. Do you think Indian values projected in American Sitcoms are different from what they really are?
A. Yes, I do
B. No, I don’t
11. Do you think American Sitcoms have influenced your personality in any way?
A. Yes
B. No
C. I don’t know
12. Would you prefer watching American Sitcoms to other hobbies?
A. Yes
B. No
C. I don’t know
14. Which character from the following American Sitcom do you like the most?
A. Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)
B. Joey Tribianni (Friends)
C. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)
D. Bart Simpson (Simpsons)
E. Rachel Green (Friends)
15. Do American Sitcoms affect your lifestyle in any way?
A. Yes
B. No
In addition to the survey method, the research problem also required interviews to be conducted. Parents of teenagers between the age group of 13 – 19 years were interviewed. School and college teachers across the city were interviewed as well. The following is how the researchers conducted the Interview method:
1. Does your child spend a lot of time watching American Sitcoms?
2. Do you think American Sitcoms have a negative effect on teenagers today? If yes, how?
3. Have you noticed any changes in the behaviour of your students/children because of watching American Sitcoms?
4. Do you think American Sitcoms encourage family values?
5. Do you think American Sitcoms are negatively affecting the lifestyles of teenagers today? If yes, how?
(iii) Description of research
As the target group is 13 -19 years, it becomes imperative to know the opinion of professors and parents. The parents and other respective family members of these teenagers best observe behavioral and lifestyle changes amongst their children. Thus, the researchers opted for an ‘Interview Method’ to know the viewpoints of parents, teachers and other family members. Minute and hidden details of the subject that are not disclosed in the Survey method, can be accessed via Interview Method. The emotional connect which was not possible through the Survey Method, was well observed through the interviews conducted.
With changing times, it is essential to keep up with the existing trends and attitudes of teenagers today. This is best understood by conducting a survey. A large amount of information is collected in a cost-effective way. A considerable amount of people are targeted through a survey. Better results are obtained in a short period of time. Thus, a ‘Survey Method’ was effective in conducting the research.
04. Result
From the surveys conducted, the researchers found the following results:
The below graph shows the percentage of teenagers who watch American Sitcoms. The survey found that 83% of teenagers watch American Sitcoms, whereas 17% of them do not. Thus, a higher percentage of teenagers watch American Sitcoms and are more receptive to its negative effects.
The next graph is a representation of the hours spent by teenagers (from the age group of 13-19 years) watching American Sitcoms. Study found that 50% of teenagers watch more than three hours of American Sitcoms per day. This being the highest, this group is at a higher risk of being prone to the negative effects of teenagers.
Majority of teenagers agreed to the fact that American Sitcoms have become a necessity in their lives. The main reason why they watch American Sitcoms is for the ‘laughter’ quotient. The below graph shows what drives teenagers to watch American Sitcoms.
It was observed that the most popular American Sitcom amongst Indian teenagers is ‘Friends’ because they can relate to the characters and the story plot.
The survey also found that 68% teenagers agreed to the fact that American Sitcoms project violence, whereas 32% thought otherwise.
.
A large percentage of teenagers feel that watching American Sitcoms have given them an insight into American culture and a better understanding of the American society.
A considerable amount of teenagers admit to the changes in their personality and way of thinking as a result of watching American Sitcoms. The next graph shows that 33% of teenagers do admit to the changes that have come about in them, whereas 4% are ignorant about the same.
The below graph shows the percentage of people who prefer watching American Sitcoms to other hobbies. It was noted that 78% of teenagers prefer watching American Sitcoms to other hobbies like dancing, playing, swimming, etc. This clearly proves the lifestyle changes brought about by watching American Sitcoms.
The survey shows that the most popular character amongst teenagers is ‘Joey Tribianni’ from the American Sitcom ‘Friends’. His character is dim-witted, skirt chasing, mostly desperately unemployed and that of a casanova.
The next graph broadly shows the negative effects of American Sitcoms on teenagers. The following are the notable changes found amongst teenagers on account of watching American Sitcoms. Based on the interviews conducted, it was found that 26% of teens have become aggressive, whereas 22% use slang language. Another 18% of teenagers have adopted western values and traditions. It was found that 20% of teenagers' personalities were influenced. 14% of teenagers have experienced a negative change in social relationships.
Following are the views of parents and teachers on American Sitcoms:
Mrs. Gandhi said, “TV shows (Sitcoms) have seemed to replace reading storybooks or playing dress-up as the average teen’s favorite pastime. Clearly, Television is a powerful tool that can alter a teen’s ideas about the world. It can control and even dictate how teenagers in our society view themselves, view others and what role they will choose in handling situations of prejudice, violence and fantasy. Although Sitcoms are not held accountable for its choices in programming, we parents has a choice to choose which programs they will promote and allow their teenagers to view.”
Mrs. Ramani said, “My daughter watches American Sitcoms all day long, which leaves her with very little family time. American sitcoms definitely have a negative impact on the teenagers. It’s seen in their clothes, actions, behavior, language, etc. Now days in India once the children turn eighteen they want to leave the house, which is not a part of our culture and is totally influenced by the American culture. They see all this in the sitcoms and want to do the same. The teenagers want to introduce their boyfriends and girlfriends to their parents, which is not acceptable by all the Indian parents. The teenagers should watch these shows for entertainment and not get influenced by sitcoms.”
Mrs. Wadhwa said, “Yes it does affect a teenager’s mannerisms and perceptions. Their way of thinking is influenced by what they see in these American Sitcoms. In addition to this, Indian family values are hampered. For instance: The way they address their parents so casually. They also get aggressive and don’t take suggestions by parents at face value also contradict statement. Their dressing sense, language also changes For example: Words like ‘Dude’, ‘Yo’, ’Bro’. They grow up faster than their age, trying to act like adults although they are just teens. Get easily influenced and get into relationships at a very young age, they feel that pre marital sex and teenage pregnancy are very common amongst the youth in India. If they just follow the Indian culture they will supersede the American culture.”
Mrs. Avnita Bir, Principal of Podar School said, “ Yes, Sitcoms do have a negative impact on teenagers today. I believe television sitcoms contribute to teenager’s alienation, to a breakdown of their social values, and a distortion of their perceptions of political systems remains fairly ambiguous in the minds of the teen. During the recess in school I hear a lot of my students talking about what they expect will happen in the next episode of the sitcoms they watch. They then end up spending very little time studying and more time watching these sitcoms. These issues are quite apparent. They all address the issue of our culture's ability to effectively integrate succeeding generations into society. Another commonality among these three are, that they focus on essentially long-term consequences of the television sitcoms. They are difficult areas to study, not only in terms of methodology, but also in terms of their required degree of sophisticated theorizing.”
As a result of time constrain the Researchers couldn’t include the ‘Experiment Method’ as a part of the research design.
05. Discussion
This design required us to conduct surveys. These surveys reached out to teenagers in different schools and colleges. As the target group is 13 -19 years it becomes imperative to know the opinion of professors and parents. The parents and other respective family members best observe behavioral and lifestyle changes.
In addition to this, parents are concerned with how these shows and their content influence the healthy development of their teens. TV exposure has been linked to multiple problems in teenagers such as teen obesity, substance use and abuse, sexual behavior and low academic achievement. Sitcoms have become increasingly persuasive in the lives of teenagers and adolescents.
Television draws on an enormous stable of representational traditions and creative personnel, and because the industry has attempted to appeal to large nationwide audiences the medium never presents one simple message. Instead it is in the relations among different programs and genres that we begin to get a view of the range of possibilities.
Earlier America Sitcoms series were good-humored and harmless, but today it often glorifies superficial characteristics such as physical beauty over spiritual strength and thus set a poor example for teenagers, with whom the shows are especially popular.
First, sexuality is pervasive throughout the Western media. From prime time TV sitcoms and dramas to feature films and magazines, the media present countless verbal and visual examples of how dating, intimacy, sex, love, marriage, divorce, and romantic relationships are handled. Content analysis studies have shown that the explicit depiction of sexuality has become more common in popular American television entertainment over the years. For example, a longitudinal analysis of American broadcast and cable channels from 1997‐2002 found that talk about sex was shown more often than sexual behavior, though both types of contents increased significantly during the period under review; for example the percentage of shows portraying sexual intercourse doubled from 7 to 14%. Content analysis of mainstream magazines has also documented increasingly graphic sexual images and messages; for example the discussion of intimate relationships makes the largest category of topics covered In addition to sexual socialization, American Sitcoms may also affect the acquisition of many other broader moral, ethical and religious values.
Despite the pervasiveness of moral and social values in the media, systematic evidence establishing the relative impact of these messages on public opinion is far from conclusive. For example, much social psychological research about the acquisition of sexual attitudes and values has been based on experimental studies conducted among the Indian student population, although it is not clear to what extent it is possible to generalize from this group to other peoples and places. Strong accounts of media effects, including the ‘Cultivation Theory’ developed by Gerbner and colleagues, claim that the frequency of exposure to the American Sitcoms, especially habitually watching many hours of these shows, leads towards the gradual internalization of the messages communicated by the them.
Through lifetime socialization, the media are thought capable of influencing moral standards, especially through the presentation of powerful images of sexuality, love, the family and marriage, the roles of women and men, and the broader treatment of religion and spirituality. Concern about the potential threat to traditional cultures arising from the values contained in Western media, such as the explicit treatment of sexuality in American Sitcoms has risen. In extreme cases, this has led some states to ban or censor the contents, and even in democracies with a long tradition protecting freedom of expression, this concern has encouraged policies restricting access to certain types of media contents, designed to protect adolescents and youth.
The heaviest viewers of the American Sitcoms are generally more liberal towards sexual and moral values, less tolerant of unethical standards of public life, less religious, more liberal in family values, and more open towards the roles of women and men. The strongest interaction concerns sexual and moral values, where greater viewing of Sitcoms within cosmopolitan societies was associated with more liberal and tolerant orientations towards issues such as homosexuality, divorce, and abortion.
As the ‘Uses and Gratification’ theory suggests, people actively choose how to spend their leisure time and how the media can best meet their prior interests and needs, such as for information, entertainment, escape or social interaction. In fact, we believe that a two‐way reciprocal interactive process is probably at work here, where prior motivation determines information exposure and then, in turn, media use reinforces Western cultural values. Researchers need to know what people are typically watching or reading in far more detail – and over a long‐term period to establish cumulative effects.
In keeping with our overall argument, exposure to these Sitcoms is consistently linked with more liberal and open moral and social values. In this regard, viewing of American Sitcoms seems to have an impact similar to that of education and age, reinforcing modern values and more tolerant attitudes. These challenges remain for future research.
06. Conclusion
The research conducted coincides with the Hypothesis that “Viewing American Sitcoms has a negative impact on teenagers”
07. Reference/Appendix
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