How do movies or TV harm/better people's behavior?

Answer 1

harm:
it puts ideas in the heads of witless folks. a good example is "jack@ss". How many stories have you heard of kids doing the dumb things those guys do, and end up seriously hurt?

better:
there is the news, mostly the weather, that informs you of important information. the leaders of our country can address millions of us and inform us of critical decisions they make, or want to make. entertainment has a limited value, but it used to be that only Kings could see top flight singers and dancers and actors. Now, the masses can enjoy them.

harm:
we used to entertain ourselves, now, we lazily watch others.

Answer 2

They are all forms of entertainment for people to enjoy .As long as they realize that is what it is their behavior should not be influenced by it. If it does affect them to the stage that they start to behave abnormally then there might be a problem which needs attending to .

Answer 3

Albert Bandura's work and theory (Social Learning Theory) suggest that we are all affected (especially children) by those that we observe around us. His research on aggression, using children watching aggressive role models, does seem to suggest that we are affected by what we see and this does have implications for the media (including films and TV). His research also suggests that we are most strongly affected by role models that are similar to us in some way, such as gender, amd by those close to us, our parents, teachers etc. or by those who are highly praised by otehrs, such as sports stars etc. My own children do act out aggressive behaviour if they watch aggressive cartoons (now banned) and I can definitely see my own behaviour mirrored in them.