why do we watch tv?

Question

Interested in the cognitive psychology of watching tv

Answer 1

Hi..
Information:

Finding out about relevant events.. and conditions in immediate surroundings, society and the world
seeking advice on practical matters or opinion and decision choices
satisfying curiosity and general interest
learning; self-education
gaining a sense of security ..through knowledge ...

Personal Identity:

finding reinforcement for personal values..
finding models of behaviour..
identifying with valued other (in the media) ..
gaining insight into one's self..

Integration and Social Interaction ..

gaining insight into circumstances of others; social empathy..
identifying with others and gaining a sense of belonging..
finding a basis for conversation and social interaction.
having a substitute for real-life companionship..
helping to carry out social roles..
enabling one to connect with family, friends and society..

Entertainment:

escaping, or being diverted, from problems..
relaxing..
getting intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment..
filling time..
emotional release..
sexual arousal..

Kind regards!;) ..








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Answer 2

If the Internet is down. I much rather be learning and doing the vegging out on the couch. However if I am tired, TV is a good passive way to do something/nothing.
Maybe there is something educational on. EWTN Eternal Word Television Network. Catholic TV 24/7, Or a comedy that is actually funny. or Funniest home Videos. Children are the funniest and cutest. I love true comedies but not slapstick or potty mouth.

Answer 3

I have often thought about this question myself and since I grew up in a house where television viewing time was limited and we had no cable TV, I think I have come to the following conclusions based on years of reflection from the lack of TV exposure. First, I think we watch because we need to be distracted. Watching television is a way to escape from our daily routines. Life can be some much more easy to deal with when we have a way to escape now and again. Second, we also watch to be entertained, which is closely tied (I believe) to my first point. Thirdly, we watch television because there is a need in all of us to see extreme situations where in which, it would be rare to find ourselves. I am referring to television programs that appeal to our fears and phobias. For example police shows, reality television, nature programs where the hosts handle dangerous animals, so on and so forth. There is also the element of disgust and attraction that also causes us to slow down in our cars on the highway when there has been a car crash. Finally, I think we watch TV because there is a certain sense to belonging. It is something that links us to other television viewers. The typical water cooler conversation where you discuss the last episode of any given TV program give us a sense of belonging and therefor, a sense of identity. In other words, in our modern world, television is a part of our culture.

Answer 4

Now that you've asked, I try to recall why I started watching TV. I was born in a time when TV wasn't part of a child's life yet. We used to get to watch movies about once every few months. Then some neighbors started having TV. We went to neighbor's houses to watch TV as if going to movie cinemas. We couldn't help but asking our parents to by TV's. Then that's the beginning of my life as a couch potato.

If you ask me, people just like to watch TV because once they see possibilities of having more people moving around them, imaginary or real, they just want to see more. Human are social creatures and very curious about others.

Answer 5

We watch tv because we have nothing better else to do and besides its very interesting and most of the channels and the shows are very educational, to some they become brainwashed by stupid shows others go on watching shows learning educational strategies to everyday life, i watch tv because well i love the tv i like watching awsome tv shows like the oc friends that 70s show!!!!

Answer 6

T.V. doesn't talk back, ask us why we came in late, where we've been. It doesn't nag us for a more expensive VCR or larger screen. It's sort of like our pets, It entertains us. We get comedy, drama, suspense, education, local and world news and all we have to do is sit and watch, and remember which buttons on the remote to push to change channels and to turn it off so we can go to bed, till we get up turn the damn thing on and do it all over again.

Answer 7

I turn on the tube when I'm bored or just want to be entertained. It's cheaper and healthier than drugs. It doesn't require any effort, which is what I'm seeking when I watch TV.

Answer 8

I suspect that some of us, perhaps lacking in entertainment, live vicariously throught the multitude of characters we find there. Some of us may cruise on over to the HIstory channel or the Discovery channel in hopes of bettering ourselves. And some of us, having worked hard in the day preceding, just want to take the time to detach from anything that seems remotely (no pun intended) like real life.

Answer 9

I like it for entertainment sometimes, but most of all, I like it to escape my own reality. I like to watch certain shows and I get so much into it that I can imagine that I am related to the characters or that I know them each very personally. It gives me a chance to escape. I listen to music for the same reasons, just in case you may want to know.

Answer 10

it shows us how to "act" in situations of interest. it also gives us a personality that we could identify with & emulate to get the same results as the character. it gives us the ablity to imagine what it would be like to feel a certain way or do like a really great thing. make us happy about seeing good overcome evil to symbolize that there is hope in society & all that good stuff there

thanks,

ss