Developmental Psychology

Psychology

"Developing Children and Multicultural Attitudes: The Systemic Psychosocial Influences of Television Portrayals in a Multimedia Society" is an article that explores the impact of television portrayals on children's attitudes. The article discusses the nature of society as it pertains to diversity and multiculturalism. The author points out that although society is growing increasingly diverse, the depictions of diversity that exist in the media are not always accurate or as diverse as they ought to be. The article then focuses on the increased use of technology by children through the internet and television. In fact, the article points out "by the time a child graduates from high school, he or she will have spent more time watching television than any other single activity with the exception of sleep (Berry, 2003)."

The author asserts that the increased use of these technologies will continue in the years to come. As a result of this increased use of technology, the images seen on television becomes increasing more important in the manner in which it shapes the attitudes of children. The author concludes that television has in fact become a mediate for multicultural experiences. Television is so influential that it is direct competition with the messages that families, schools and friends send to children concerning multiculturalism. As a result the author felt the need to study how television influences the beliefs that young people have concerning multiculturalism. The article also reveals the findings of a study which assert that children believe that diversity on television is important. This study also revealed that children can be affected in both negative and positive ways by seeing people of their own race on television. Overall the article suggest that "The showing of positive characters and sound content will aid the young child to identify with the important aspects of his or her culture (Berry, 2003)."

Response

The authors assessments about the power of television in influencing the ideas children have about multiculturalism are extremely relevant and accurate. All forms of media are extremely popular and as a result the messages that are presented about people from various cultures also become popular, even if the messages are untrue or based on stereotypes. The benefit of understanding the power of television on the minds of young people, is that parents have the ability to monitor how much television that their children watch. In addition, when questionable images do appear parents can discuss these images with children. By monitoring the images that children see on television, parents have the ability to shape the opinions of children concerning multiculturalism.