It’s not your imagination. Our society really is going to hell on a bullet train.
A study just published by psychologists at UCLA finds that our values have undergone a remarkable downshift over the past decade, with TV a crucial factor in the erosion.
Consider this: In 2007, the top values championed by the TV shows most popular with tweens were fame, achievement, popularity, image and financial success. Ten years prior to that, in 1997, the top priorities were strikingly different: community feeling, benevolence, image, tradition and self-acceptance.
Dropping to the very bottom of the 2007 list were spiritualism and tradition.
Admittedly, the parameters of the study are constrained. Findings are based on two series per decade, the pair of shows most popular with 9-11 year olds. The most recent decade’s data was based on American Idol and Hannah Montana.
Societal mores are mutating in this era of reality show stars, instant Internet notoriety and social media.
“The rise of fame in preteen television may be one influence in the documented rise of narcissism in our culture," says Patricia M. Greenfield, a psychology professor at UCLA and senior author of the study. "Popular television shows are part of the environment that causes the increased narcissism, but they also reflect the culture. They both reflect it and serve as a powerful socialization force for the next generation.
“"If you have 400 or more Facebook friends, which many high school and college students do, you are on stage," she continues. "It's intrinsically narcissistic."
Say hello to the Mirror-mirror-on-the-wall generation, nursed on a toxic mix of entitlement and vanity.
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This is certainly no shock. But how do you explain the Facebook habits of the 40+ year olds. Hourly posts celebrating their silly existence. And their kids' worthless and meager accomplishments. Colleges, and even high schools, must take in scant revenue from tuition bc every person I meet has a kid on scholarship. Parents...stop investing so much in your children's lives. They are not yours to own, just to steer. Parenting is not cheerleading.— Stop.Enough.- Sorry...
*STEAR— Stop.Enough. - DUH...You think ??? and video games have an impact also....but what else would expect from fake reality shows, sitcoms with no touch of reality and a society that takes no responsibility or accountability for themselves...and games that kill off hundreds as if human life means nothing......— nuggett
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