attempting to find flaws in the research simply to be contrary is absurd. what would be the argument FOR allowing a 18 month old to watch TV? where is ANY research (correlational or causational) which supports this behavior?

TV is a very significant cause of obesity. It is draining us of our energy. I have proven that TV is an extended form/experience of dream vision as waking vision.

Also, think sensory processing and emotional disorders/impairement. Emotion is differentiated and manifest as sensory experience and feeling.
TV is highly interactive in relation to/ in conjunction with emotion, thought, attention, and memory.

TV is far worse for people than what is commonly believed.

Psychologists believe that television has a strong correlation with the behavior of children. The famous behaviorism psychologist, Albert Bandura experimented on children and their behavior as they watch the positive and negative reinforcements of others. The experiment he carried out showed children a video of a model punch, kick, and shouting various hostile phrases at the bobo-doll. In one video the children were shown the model being positively rewarded after beating up the bobo-doll, the other video showed the model being punished for her behavior. The children who watched the positively reinforced model were later caught imitating the behavior they had seen. Bandura social learning theory is known as the observational learning model. Robert A. Baron, discuses in his article “Aggression,” the ideas behind Bandura, and how “children learn to act aggressive when they model their behavior after violent acts of adults, especially family members. For example, the boy who witnesses his father repeatedly strikes his mother, will more than likely to become an abusive parent and husband” (Isom). This theory of Bandura goes hand in hand with my assumption of how television advocates the imitation in child behavior. According to Bandura’s research as television becomes more blunt, so will the society it broadcast to, thus fading morals and changing norms.
“Teachers and school officials claim that children bring to school what they hear at home, whereas parents insist that children bring home what they hear in school,” much like the saying which came first the chicken or the egg, no one can really say (Kaye, 431-432). Children of this day and age are surrounded by the concept of reality television shows. The humiliation of others entertains us so much, that many girls want nothing more than to pound on the makeup, dress skanky, and talk like a bimbo from the “Jersey Shore” or a stuck up snooty brat with lots of money from MTV’S “My Super Sweet 16”. Most of my younger sister’s generation has no respect for their elders, money, or even appreciation for themselves. It is always wise to remember when it comes to television “children are not passive recipients of televised information–a view that is in contrast with that of many social critics–but bring their own experience, knowledge, and abilities to the viewing situation” (Rolandelli, 49-50). It is reasonable to say that all girls go through a stage where imitation is one of the many steps towards growing up, and understand who they are. Others would say that parents are totally to blame for the way girls grow up. Both are valid assumptions, but with television and society turning towards sex and appearance, the values of my younger sisters generation are more likely to worry about how they will fit in. This need to fit in and imitation of what is seen on television may cause hasty decisions on sex, drugs, and alcohol in order to gain approval from their peers.
In today’s society, being older than what you are is a key concept as everyone is in a rush to experience things much earlier in life. For instance the younger generation is already wearing makeup at an early age, drinking at an early age, even having sex at an early age. The lack of morals has changed not only in our society but on the television shows viewers watch today. A decade ago, the generation was more prone to playing it safe, with shows like “Boy Meets World” verses the curious immature child of today, who engage themselves in shows such as “Jersey Shore” and “Secret Life of an American Teenager”. Where did the morals in society go, and what is with the pointless television shows about sex, drugs, and violence trying to advocate to the viewers. I cannot seem to understand why television has become such a downward spiral of disrespect, cursing, and lack of ethics. What will be in store for future generations?

However, I agree that parents should be more focused on their child’s education than they currently are. Instead of attempting to restrict TV and create other stimulating activities for their children to do, parents should be more firm when it comes to their childrens’ schoolwork. My parents were no-nonsense when it came to school. I could watch television, but that report card needed to be all A’s. I learned from a very early age how to manage my time effectively. I knew that there was a certain amount of time that needed to be alloted to fractions and decimals or else my grade would suffer. I also knew that after I studied, TV was a great way to relax and my parents wouldn’t chase after me saying “Turn of the TV, let’s go for a nature hike or build with legos.” Creativity and imagination is great and all, but academic success is key. When I raise my own kids, I’ll make sure they know that schoolwork is more important above all, but I won’t hackle them with “creative projects” when all they want to do is relax after hours of studying. And really, what’s the harm in a couple hours of low-key entertainment and relaxation after all the homework is done?

Anthony Pugh