Television-Viewing and Family Communication Style as Predictors of Children's Emotional Behavior

Abstract

Abstract Studies with preschool and early school-age children have examined the links between the patterns of family communication, parental discipline, the children's television-viewing, and their emotional behavior or attitudes. It is proposed that family styles, especially the degree to which parents discuss and interpret the world for children, are important influences on the development of imagination, self-control, and avoidance of unwarranted expression of negative affect or anger. Television-viewing, although a potentially positive influence with limited use and appropriate programming, generally predicts negative affective patterns and aggression. Parent, educator, and clinical approaches to mitigating such negative influences of television are considered.