Television shows as reflections of and/or creators of social norms, attitudes & values - Essay Example

On the other hand, knowledge of positive effects is important in order to improve them hence attaining a better society as well. Televised media can arguably be considered the most influential form of media due to its ability to air in both audio and video forms simultaneously. Unlike in the past, television (TV) shows have in the modern day diversified touching on different cultures from across the globe. There is no doubt that interaction with different cultures has influenced social norms, attitudes and values in areas receiving TV coverage.

Social norms form an important platform in determining people’s identity within a given society. This is to say that the most common behavior within a particular society is dependent on the activities relating to that particular society. When people are born to a particular society they do not poses personal identities. However, over time in the course of growth and as interactions increase, personal traits are developed based on an individual’s surroundings. A combination of self-discovery and the imminent environment leads to formation of self-identity (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2010, p.118). This implies that both external factors in the surroundings and internal factors are crucial in determining who an individual becomes.

In modern day, people of all ages and gender have frequent access to TVs hence TV shows can be considered as part of the external surroundings. Therefore, TV shows can be considered to have great impacts in determining a person’s identity. Taking a keen interest on young people as they develop gives a clear reflection of how TV shows influence personal identities and eventually social norms. Statistics show that young people in America spend approximately 7 hours per day engaging in media activities (Arnett, 2010, p. 338). This implies that there is significantly high chances of interacting with various social norms from the