Age of information technology
Currently, we are witnessing a gradual transition of human society to a new type of civilization. Many scientists call it informational. This is explained by the increase in scale, complexity of structures and content of streams carrying certain messages and news. At the same time, researchers note the increasing influence of information technology on the human psyche.
And this fact is confirmed by our daily life. Indeed, over the past decades, we have been bombarded with a simply unimaginable flow of information. Modern media of all types have turned into a single global system, located at a fantastic energy level. This can only mean one thing. Human consciousness has fallen into an artificial trap created by itself, and today it is a kind of “squirrel in a wheel.”
In addition, developing information psychotechnologies are acquiring increasingly sophisticated methods of influence for which nature has not prepared our brain. This is why we tend to become completely defenseless in the face of this trap.
The influence of television on a person in general also turns out to be unfavorable. It manifests itself not only in the negative impact on his health. This question has a lot to do with the psychological sphere.
Television in our lives
Sometimes it happens that living beings, striving to satisfy their basic needs, find themselves in mortal danger. This is the paradox of the struggle for survival. For example, a fish that swallows the bait immediately gets hooked. A mouse attracted by the smell of cheese ends up in a mousetrap. However, all actions of fauna representatives are determined by physiological necessity.
If we consider human behavior, there are no reasonable explanations. It is not at all in order to survive that people indulge in destructive vices and temptations. Sometimes they are not stopped even by a direct threat not only to health, but also to life. Temptation in such cases dominates reason.
The same can be said when considering such a problem as the negative impact of television on humans. After all, sitting in front of a blue screen has become the most popular entertainment of our contemporaries. Most people define their relationship with TV as “love-hate”. The TV itself is perceived by them as a “box for dummies.” However, despite the awareness that television sometimes has a negative impact on people, the majority of the population of our planet happily settles down on sofas and armchairs, without letting go of the remote control. Of course, parents sometimes grumble at their children because it is difficult to tear them away from the screen. However, they themselves try to remain silent about their own preferences of this kind.
Waste of time
The proven harm of TV: this device acts as a professional “time killer”. Steals a lot of your free time.
Remember for yourself or ask your parents: initially, people watched TV only when they had a free minute. Today, many TV viewers spend hours aimlessly sitting in front of their blue screens, instead of doing something really useful and exciting at the same time - their favorite sport, self-education, a new hobby.
People not only devote their free time to TV. While watching TV series and programs, they forget to do even important things. The results of the surveys terrify even researchers: the vast majority of respondents devote all their free time to TV. That is, they narrow their life to a vicious circle of “work - TV - sleep”. Which is really scary.
Getting out of this circle is relatively simple - start devoting your rest time to something else:
- Communicate with family and friends, search for new acquaintances.
- Realization of your creative idea.
- Introducing to fitness, sports, jogging or simple home exercises and periodic walks in the fresh air.
- Making a list of books and sticking to it.
- Creative activity.
Diagnosis: TV addiction
For several decades, scientists have been conducting research trying to study the influence of television on humans. They are especially interested in the question of the connection between the scenes of cruelty that we see on silver screens and the realities that exist in everyday life. At the same time, researchers are trying to understand the reason why ordinary consumers still choose the latter between newspapers, magazines and television.
Who is a TV fan? Psychologists and psychiatrists define pathological dependence on something as a deviation from the norm, which corresponds to signs of an inadequate reaction to a specific stimulus. This includes a large amount of time devoted to the object of addiction, and the use of it more often than usual, and the refusal to fulfill professional, social and family responsibilities for the sake of such pastime, and withdrawal into oneself, as well as isolation. These criteria are perfect for those who sit in front of the TV screen for a long time.
Of course, we cannot say that the influence of television on people is only bad. After all, it broadens your horizons and educates, relaxes and entertains, allows you to temporarily forget about the depressing reality and enjoy the beautiful. With the help of television, we can even make purchases at a TV store. However, even those who understand that it is necessary to reduce the time spent in front of a blue screen are sometimes unable to deny themselves the pleasure of watching television programs or interesting films.
How to increase your chances of winning? To do this, it is necessary to carefully study how television influences a person.
False relaxation
The amount of time that a modern person spends in front of the TV screen cannot but be terrifying. On average, the population of large industrial cities spends three hours daily on this. This is approximately half of a person’s free time, excluding household chores and sleep. This means that out of 75 years of life, people spend 9 years watching television programs and just sitting in front of a blue screen. Some might attribute this to a great love for TV. Why then is there concern about such passion?
Scientists have conducted a number of studies aimed at studying the body's reactions to exposure to TV. At the same time, changes were recorded that occur in the electrical resistance of the skin and in the heart rate. All these parameters were taken using a special device before and after, as well as while watching television. Similar experiments were carried out not only in specialized laboratories. The readings were also taken in natural, habitual human conditions. At the same time, the TV fan was not just on his favorite sofa in front of his home blue screen. He drank and ate, slept and worked. He always had a device with him that received sound signals. When receiving them, the teleman had to record everything he was doing at the moment and how he felt.
When a signal was received while watching TV, the person characterized his state as passive and relaxed. This was never noted during reading. When the TV was turned off, the feeling of relaxation immediately disappeared, but passivity remained. Viewers confirmed the fact that TV seemed to absorb their energy, leading to emptiness.
Drugs have a similar effect. Tranquilizers that are eliminated from the body very quickly are more addictive than those that are eliminated slowly. So is the viewer. When he watches a TV show, he understands that after turning off the TV, the feeling of relaxation will disappear. And he wants to watch more and more.
general information
The influence of television on human health is not entirely a myth.
According to data received from scientists, the body is negatively affected by the intensity of the electromagnetic field exceeding 0.2 μT. CRT televisions equipped with a kinescope or having a cathode ray tube are capable of generating a field of 2 μT. Such radiation from a TV is recorded in maximum proximity to the source: no more than a few centimeters. The further a person moves away, the lower the field performance. The optimal range is considered to be 1.1-1.2 meters: there is practically no harm.
Radiation from the TV is also dangerous - ionizing radiation, reminiscent of ordinary x-rays. It is formed when electrodes attack the protected screen. Normal anode voltage is 20-25 kV. If there is some malfunction in the electronics, the level rises to 90 kV, which already exceeds the voltage in the X-ray tubes.
CRT TVs
The main source of radiation is a cathode ray tube. Beta particles have low energy. If the kinescope is of high quality, it provides reliable protection, thanks to which the electron beam practically does not extend beyond the boundaries of the device.
Lead-coated glass is used to reduce X-ray radiation. In very old devices there is an additional source of ionizing effects - triodes. They are located outside the kinescope and are necessary to stabilize the voltage. The lack of reliable protection leads to the fact that triodes “produce” more rays than the kinescope itself.
LCD TVs
There is practically no radiation from an LCD TV, since there is no picture tube - the main source of danger. The image is projected completely differently. Special elements are used that do not require significant voltage. About 5 W is enough for them. Conductors generate minor radiation, which is “blocked” by special elements that provide protection.
LED
There are no beta or x-rays in such devices. Electromagnetic radiation is negligible. You can fix it at the back wall of the device, where the main components and parts of the device are located. The matrix that creates the image is not a source of toxic radiation.
Plasma TVs
The harm from a plasma TV is minimal. The monitor of such devices is divided into numerous cells containing inert gas. When heated, it begins to glow. The device generates a large amount of heat and is not recommended to be placed in small rooms.
Signal amplification sources
To amplify TV waves, it is necessary to increase the currents in certain nodes. This leads to increased radiation. The human body is not negatively affected if the device functions only as a receiving object. It is important that when locating stationary television towers, accepted standards are observed: such devices are not installed near residential buildings.
Attracting the viewer's attention
Why do people sometimes cannot tear themselves away from the blue screen? This is partly explained by the presence in us of a biologically orienting reaction. This concept was first described by the famous physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov in 1927. By indicative we mean our visual, auditory or instinctive reaction to a previously unknown or sudden stimulus. This is a person's innate susceptibility to potential threat. Typical examples of such a reaction are turning the eyes towards the emerging source of irritation, slowing down cardiac activity, etc. Alpha waves are blocked, which return to their normal rhythm within a few seconds.
In 1986, a number of researchers studied the influence of various television techniques on the occurrence of an orienting reaction. As a result, clear conclusions were made that with a quick change of frames, original editing and sudden noises, which television advertising usually uses, there is a significant increase in viewer interest. At the same time, it was pointed out that it is not the content that is unique, but the form in which the material is presented.
The overload of TV with advertising and music videos has a strong influence on the appearance of an indicative reaction. Moreover, the nominal frequency of such techniques is one unit per second.
Source of negativity
We continue the conversation about the benefits and harms of computers and TV. Remember: what you see on the screen is often a source of negativity, spoiled mood and even stress and depression. After all, it often happened that you turned on the TV in a great mood. And then there is news about terrorist attacks, armed conflicts, brutal murders. It is difficult to perceive such information detachedly. And now there is nothing left of the previously good mood.
Heroes of your favorite films and TV series add fuel to the fire. An impressionable viewer sometimes worries about their relationships, ups and downs, as if they were their own. For many, the death of a hero becomes a personal tragedy.
Of course, empathy is a wonderful feeling. But the problem with spending time on television is that it distances you from your loved ones. You begin to worry about the relationships of the characters in the series more than your own; their problems become closer to you than your family members. You are looking forward to the new episode, but you forget to ask your friend how he spent his vacation, what is the state of health of your parents, what made your child happy today.
TV and memory
Can people talk about what they watched? This problem has also been studied by scientists. After the experiments, it became clear that a person’s memory was positively influenced by viewing footage taken from different points and with several cameras simultaneously. A similar effect was noticeable with frequent frame changes. These are the methods used by television advertising. The recognition effect weakened sharply with decreasing frequency indicators.
This can also be said when studying children's educational programs. The television techniques used provide invaluable assistance in learning, but with a sharp change in frames, the child’s brain is overloaded. And this negatively affects the perception of the material.
As for television advertising, its main goal, with a sharp change in unrelated scenes, is to retain the viewer's attention. People most often remember the name of the product, but all the details in the video pass by. At the same time, the viewer’s approximate reaction weakens. He is still glued to the screen, but he already feels tired and does not receive any positive emotions in return.
TV and psyche
Experts who have studied the problem of the influence of television on humans do not at all claim that it is impossible to sit in front of a blue screen. However, they warn those who spend too much time on this that various problems will arise.
Why is TV addiction dangerous? Scientists have conducted quite a lot of experiments to answer questions about the attitude towards life of those who cannot take their eyes off the blue screen. The results were simply amazing. The influence of television on the psyche of these not quite ordinary viewers was confirmed. Regardless of the years they had lived, they felt anxiety and restlessness, while feeling like unhappy people, which cannot be said about ordinary spectators. Similar sensations came to them at a time when they simply did nothing or were left alone with themselves.
According to studies, TV fans are more likely to feel sad, irritated and absent-minded. It is more difficult for them to switch and concentrate attention. Such people explain their addiction to TV by saying that they want to take their mind off troubles and the sad thoughts that overwhelm them, and also somehow fill the free time they have. In addition, according to research, TV fans are less likely to take part in sporting events and are often obese.
Passion for television shows reduces self-control and increases intolerance to natural everyday troubles, negatively affects a creative approach to solving problems and does not support the desire to achieve the intended goal.
Harmful effects on the psyche
- The harm caused by television to a person’s mental health primarily affects a decrease in thinking. The idea that viewing allows you to expand your horizons and gain new information is deceptive. In reality, 90% of the time spent sitting in front of a screen is spent watching movies, TV series, music videos, that is, something that, in fact, does not carry any special information load or benefit for a person. Also, you don’t need to think that relaxing in front of the TV helps unload your brain. In fact, for this you need to think about something, analyze something, draw conclusions. If viewing is done day after day, and even for many years, it is not strange that a person’s horizons narrow.
- Dependence on television shows and series develops. It's no wonder that people can watch the same soap opera for years. And it’s one thing when for pensioners, this is their only joy, they are afraid to miss a new episode, but for young people, this is unacceptable, a person is simply wasting his time, acquiring an addiction similar to alcohol.
- Method of manipulation. It is necessary to understand that the television corporation knows very well how to tie a person to the screen and make him receptive on an unconscious level. For example, watching advertisements on TV significantly increases the sale of goods that are advertised. This is direct evidence that the individual absorbs the information he sees and hears. Television, in essence, zombifies, creates conditions for control, and lulls vigilance.
- ADD. It is a mental disorder in which a person perceives any information superficially. This condition turns a person into a depressed person and makes him irritable. The individual does not strive for self-improvement or career growth; he has difficulties with intelligence. Such individuals often resort to alcohol and psychotropic drugs in order to cope with some problem; they degenerate. In other words, TV makes people stupid.
- Development of depression. When a person sits in front of a blue screen in dim lighting, he begins to develop apathy. If he is waiting for the release of a new series, which for some reason was canceled, then his mood noticeably worsens. In addition, depression can be caused by the information itself that is broadcast in programs, news, and films.
- Oversaturation of information. A person sitting at the TV can watch several programs in a row. He does not have enough time to analyze what he saw and heard. Unnecessary information begins to crowd out necessary information.
- TV addiction can also affect personal relationships, family, and relationships with friends. A person who sits in front of a screen all the time stops taking care of himself, reduces communication with other people to a minimum, and does not pay attention to his loved one, which leads to loneliness.
Children's TV mania
According to statistics, almost forty-five percent of children whose ages range from 5 to 12 years spend all their free time watching the TV screen. The influence of television on children is enormous and can turn them into real TV lovers. What attracts them to TV?
According to studies conducted by German scientists, viewers simply forget the content of all television programs over time. However, the emotions that were experienced at the same time always remain in the soul. This is the key point that binds the little viewer to the blue screen. After all, children transform the emotions they receive into emotional attachments. In other words, kids are drawn to TV unconsciously. They strive to relive a feeling that has already taken place, and not necessarily a positive one. Of course, many parents have noticed that their child loves to watch scary movies. This is emotional attachment to the experience of fear. Already an hour after the start of viewing, and sometimes even fifteen minutes later, the child is overwhelmed by other people’s emotions coming to him from the screen.
Why can't kids watch TV? Experts who study the physiology of the sense organs have confirmed the fact that TV-addicted children begin to suffer from a complete loss of the ability to imagine. They don't need to think or imagine. The TV does it for them.
Possible reasons for development
Man is very curious by nature. He is interested in many things, for this reason various unpleasant stories can happen. Some look into other people's windows, others read messages on someone else's phone. Each person expresses curiosity differently.
In pursuit of him, some people forget to live their own lives, because someone else’s life seems much more interesting to them. You should achieve your own goals, learn new things, and share moments of joy and disappointment with loved ones. But often, instead, people completely surrender to the TV screen, from where they draw various feelings and emotions.
Those most often affected by television are those who suffer from loneliness and lack of personal goals. A person becomes unsure of himself because he cannot realize himself in real life. Such people live with the problems of the actors they see in the TV series they watch.
Harm to health
What are the negative consequences of TV addiction? This disease leads to the following problems:
- to deterioration of vision, which is a well-known fact that does not require additional evidence; - physical inactivity and one of its consequences - spinal curvature; - excess body weight due to a sedentary lifestyle; - sleep disturbances, increased fearfulness, excitability and other neurological problems.
After turning on the TV, the child finds himself under its hypnosis. The language of TV is the language of images. They are perceived by the right hemisphere of the brain and are directly related to the subconscious. All the emotions that were experienced by the child while watching TV programs also go there. Due to the greater development of the right hemisphere, children become easily excitable.
Children under six years of age do not perceive information presented to them from the screen critically. They are unlikely to be able to distinguish truth from fiction. Everything that happens on the screen is taken by them at face value, at the same time passing into life and affecting their behavior.
Possible harm from TV
Electromagnetic waves do not pose a real threat to everyone. At risk are:
- pregnant women;
- children;
- people with low immunity;
- suffering from hormonal problems;
- experiencing problems with the endocrine system.
Studies have shown that people who are constantly exposed to electromagnetic fields have an increased risk of developing leukemia. Mental, cardiovascular, vegetative and reproductive pathologies are often recorded.
Danger to eyesight
Most often, harm from watching TV affects the organs of vision. This is due to several factors. Thus, during prolonged sitting in front of the TV, the eye focus is concentrated on one point, which leads to disruption of the lens: the function responsible for the change is reduced.
Screen flickering leads to a sharp change in the size of the pupils and tension in the visual organs, especially if you are relaxing in a dark room. Sharp and frequent changes in shades and colors are dangerous due to eye strain, which provokes headaches.
Sitting in front of the TV for a long time is especially dangerous for young children: the risk of visual impairment increases. Children who spend a lot of time in front of screens from an early age are more likely to wear glasses or need vision correction.
Harm to the psyche and lifestyle
There are many studies looking at how television affects people. Experts come to the conclusion that regular and prolonged viewing has a negative impact on both the psyche and outlook on life. Thus, many entertainment shows form a variety of stereotypes that are far from the outside world. Discrepancies between the broadcast picture and reality can provoke depression.
Time that viewers could spend communicating with loved ones or exercising is wasted on mind-numbing entertainment programs. The result is problems with socialization, excess weight, and problems with blood vessels. The “wrong” selection of gears is dangerous for the moral degradation of the individual.
Some people doubt whether sleeping with TV is harmful. Quiet humming often helps you fall asleep. But constant sound prevents the brain from fully relaxing and resting. After sleeping while listening to a TV show, a person wakes up exhausted and does not feel invigorated. The unformed child’s psyche suffers the most in such situations.
TV time
How much TV can children watch? Before the age of seven, it is generally undesirable to do this without adults. Parents can only turn on a certain educational cartoon for their baby, which plays for a short time.
It’s good if adults are next to their child while watching children’s programs and comment on the story they see. It is also advisable to have a joint discussion of what was presented to the young spectators.
How long do experts allow children to be in front of a blue screen? It depends on their age:
1. It is not recommended to do this at all before two years of age. 2. From 2 to 3 years only half an hour a day 3. From 3 to 7 years - no more than an hour and a half a day. 4. From 7 to 13 years old - only two hours a day.
In addition, it is not recommended to install a TV in a children's room. Otherwise, the child will spend all his leisure time only in front of a blue screen. He will prefer it to active games, educational and useful activities. In this case, it will be very difficult to establish the necessary control over the baby. The TV on can become a familiar background, which can lead to the fact that the baby simply cannot concentrate on thinking or reading. It will be difficult for a child to even fall asleep without TV, which will certainly have a negative impact on his psyche.
How watching TV affects brain activity
Photo: Shutterstock
October 1 is the International Day of Older Persons . Lately, more and more often grandparents, as well as their grandchildren, can be found on the sofa in front of the TV, and not with a crossword puzzle and a book. Taking a break from problems by watching TV shows and programs is not bad sometimes, but can this become a rule for relaxation? Tatyana Donskikh, head of the clinical diagnostic department, including the day hospital, neurologist at the Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology of the FMBA of Russia, told KP how lifestyle on the couch in front of the screen affects the activity of our brain, memory and attention.
— Indeed, television has become an integral part of the life of almost every family in our time. And for many older people, unfortunately, it has been replaced by an interlocutor and friend who will entertain without requiring reciprocal efforts. Reading and solving crossword puzzles are active intellectual work of the brain, which contributes to the formation of new neural connections and the accumulation of cognitive reserve. And TV gives a person a ready-made image, thereby depriving the brain of the need to think, ask questions, fantasize, analyze, and draw its own conclusions,” says neurologist Tatyana Donskikh.
It turns out that a bright television picture can put both adults and children into a trance. This is why we are stuck in front of a screen all day. After such unloading, efforts will be required to return the brain to the perception of texts and intellectual activity.
— Many people regard watching television as a way to escape from their own thoughts. Watching TV shows indeed implies a passive way of spending time, but this is precisely what provokes the so-called “diseases of civilization”, such as obesity, diabetes, osteochondrosis, diseases of the cardiovascular system, sleep disturbances, and dementia. But a walk, sports, reading, music will help you relax much more usefully, says neurologist Tatyana Donskikh.
However, a neurologist notes that it is never too late to change your habits. It is not necessary to ban yourself from TV completely, but it would be nice to introduce time restrictions, for example, allow yourself one educational program that interests you, and then go to courses or master classes on this topic in real life. Or watch the news on television, but then also read an article on this topic in the newspaper, compare the facts, analyze the data, and draw your own conclusions.
— I would like to recall the statement of the French writer Felicia Genlis: “People who read books will always control those who watch TV.” So make your choice, says neurologist Tatyana Donskikh.
