That's what a new scientific study says...
New research by psychologists at the University at Buffalo and Miami
University, Ohio, indicates that illusionary relationships with the
characters and personalities on favorite TV shows can provide people
with feelings of belonging, even in the face of low self esteem or
after being rejected by friends or family members.
The findings are described in four studies published in the current issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
"The research provides evidence for the 'social surrogacy
hypothesis,' which holds that humans can use technologies, like
television, to provide the experience of belonging when no real
belongingness has been experienced," says one of the study's authors,
Shira Gabriel, Ph.D., UB assistant professor of psychology.
Righto. Yay television. But maybe is it possible that no belongingness had been experienced because, in part, these humans were spending all their time inside watching TV? Yeah, they thought of that:
It remains an open question, say the researchers, whether social
surrogacy suppresses belongingness needs or actually fulfills them, and
they acknowledge that the kind of social surrogacy provoked by these
programs can be a poor substitution for "real" human-to-human
experience.
"Turning one's back on family and friends for the solace of
television may be maladaptive and leave a person with fewer resources
over time," says UB's Derrick, "but for those who have difficulty
experiencing social interaction because of physical or environmental
constraints, technologically induced belongingness may offer comfort."
"Technologically induced belongingness." That's a hell of a phrase, isn't it?
PREVIOUSLY:
TV Makes You Drink?
TV Increases Kids' Risk Of Asthma?
TV Makes You Depressed?
Television Is An Essential Good
