The television screen is unquestionably alluring, but is it addicting to watch? Unlike drug addiction, television addiction is not considered a public health concern, nor a treatable condition, nor even a serious social taboo. It is however remarkably similar to other forms of addiction. What are the characteristics of TV addiction? What are the effects of watching TV on the body and the mind? How much is too much — are you a TV addict?
Is TV Addiction Real?
Is television addiction a real problem? There are similarities between substance abuse and TV addiction. When someone is addicted to a substance, they spend a lot of time using it, use it more often then they intend, make repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back use, give up other activities for the substance, and have withdrawal symptoms when using stops.
While the self-ascribed TV addict, or even the majority of Americans may admit to having these problems, according to the Scientific American (February, 2007) article, "Television Addiction is No Real Metaphor," written by Robert Kubey and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, people do have control over whether they watch the television screen or not. There are reasons, such as changes to brain waves and the physical body, that make it difficult to avoid watching too much television. The TV, however, is not technically addicting.
The Effects of Watching TV
What are the effects of watching TV on the body? According to research done for Kubey's and Csikszentmihalyi's article, when a person sits down to watch the television, they report feeling relaxed and passive. Brain waves confirm these feelings as mental stimulation is low while viewing the "boob tube."
What happens when the screen turns off is probably why people feel that they have a TV addiction. Participants in the research reported feeling that their energy was depleted, that they had difficulty focusing, and that their mood either remained the same or dropped when the television was turned off. There is actually a period of stress, combined with lowered alertness that occurs at the end of TV watching. The mind gets used to this cycle of instant relaxation and then the stress and passivity, and learns to expect it. Therefore, for a TV addict, or for the average American, who watches about five hours of television a day according to the Nielsen data for 2009, it is easy to turn the TV on and slump into a comfortable chair, and not easy to finally turn the set off.
There is another physical effect from TV watching that may have something to do with an individual's feeling of television addiction. It is called the orienting response and was first explained by the great Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov in 1927. When the body is exposed to flashing lights, sudden movements, loud sounds, and similar effects from zooms, pans, and other camera techniques, the orienting response occurs so the brain can focus on the potential "danger." Blood vessels to the brain dilate, and those to the major muscle groups constrict, the heart slows, and alpha waves are blocked for a few seconds. So when you feel like you are hypnotized by the flashing commercial TV ad, you are really fulfilling your involuntary biological response to the stimuli.
Defining a TV Addict
Who is a TV addict? There is no criteria that makes someone an addict, although many people may consider themselves to be addicted to the television. As there are connections between watching too much television and obesity, perhaps someday television addiction will be considered as a real public issue. For now, it is the concern of the individual who may feel like they have missed out on other, more fulfilling activities because they were captivated by the television for several hours a day. People who consider themselves to be TV addicts say they are easily bored, easily distracted, have trouble focusing, and are not likely to participate in sports or community activities.
Fantasy, Drugs, and Television Addiction
Journalist Paul Hamill has gone so far as to correlate the rise in drug addiction over the past 40 years with the popularity of the television. According to his theory, the TV offers the same "unearned high" that illegal drugs provide, and as people have become accustomed to television addiction, they have come to expect the highs and the lows of substance abuse.
The television is entertaining, and can even be informative. Many people enjoy the temporary escape from the stress of life that TV viewing provides. Is TV addiction a real problem? Consider that the average American is sitting in front of a television set for well over half of their leisure time. Sixty-six percent of Americans are watching while eating. The most popular activity beyond working and sleeping is, yes, watching the television.
Do you have an addiction to the TV? That is for you to decide. Look at your own personal viewing habits and decide if that is the life you want to live. Although there are physical effects of watching TV, you do have the free will to choose to do something more rewarding, such as going for a walk, reading a book, or just talking to someone.
References:
Silver, Rosalind. "Our Culture of Addiction." (Media & Values)
Kubey, Robert and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. "Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor." (Scientific American, February 23, 2002).
Center for Screen Time Awareness
Brenna Coleman - Brenna is a freelance writer focusing on natural health and beauty. She has written hundreds of articles, helping readers find ways to ...
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