Movies and TV series are not nearly as harmless as they seem. Yes, they help pass the evening, but at the same time they influence us quite strongly. And far from always this influence can be called positive, says psychotherapist Nathan Feiles.
Since childhood, when we are most impressionable, movies and television form our expectations. Children watch movies and series, and they develop ideas about how relationships between people look like, what success supposedly should be, what society demands of us.
Even if the film was created as purely entertaining, we easily, without realizing it, «absorb» what we see on the screen, gradually starting to believe that «this is how it should be.» I mean not even specific plots, but those implicit conclusions that can be drawn from what is happening. About how people communicate, behave, express emotions, resolve conflicts, what sex should be like and how to be a good parent.
Movies and series make many feel insecure. When a person realizes that he is not able to meet the standards set by cinema and television, he begins to consider himself inferior, it seems to him that he lives incorrectly. If he cannot charm others, be charismatic — like the characters on the screen — then he seems shy to himself, unable to communicate normally.
Movies and television can also form phobias. For example, if we see an airplane on the screen, it almost always gives the impression that it is about to crash. Viewers can “soak up” such messages, and as a result, their anxiety is exacerbated. This also applies to other fears — before elevators, spiders, snakes. Movies reinforce our phobias, making it seem to us that relatively safe situations are actually more risky.
Consider how many takes actors and directors need to shoot the perfect scene
Thanks to cinematic techniques, what is happening on the screen seems almost real. Filmmakers try to show events, even absolutely fantastic ones, as realistically as possible, and it seems to the viewer that the same can happen to him.
Movies and series can unwittingly inspire us with unhealthy ideas, thereby harming our mental health. Take, for example, scenes that show how a character shows anger or annoyance. Often it is expressed explicitly — the heroes shout at those who angered them, fight with them or begin to take revenge on them, up to and including murder. And surely someone has to win, and someone has to lose.
Those images of an ideal life that we see on the screen can damage self-esteem and self-confidence. We get the feeling that we must always be able to choose the right words, do the right thing and generally be able to do everything right the first time — just like it happens in the movies. But consider how many takes it takes for actors and directors to shoot the perfect scene. You can’t expect that in a life where there is only one “double”, everything will go just as smoothly! Nevertheless, many people think that this is what we should strive for.
Such an unconscious attitude can do a lot of harm, increasing anxiety, provoking stress, leading to depression and a sense of failure from not meeting unattainable standards.
Usually the viewer is shown what he wants to see. An embittered person often wants to see how the hero on the screen pours out anger, beating up the offender, and this resonates with his emotions. Yes, movie fights — especially those that are beautifully and effectively filmed — can sometimes serve as good entertainment. But is it really worth giving vent to anger in life, rushing into a fight? Of course not — it is much more important to manage emotions and express them in a healthy and constructive (rather than destructive) way.
The action on the screen often reflects our experiences. That is why films can make such a deep impression on us. But as a result, the line between reality and fantasy begins to blur. In the movies, you rarely see real role models or a realistic depiction of psychological problems. The more we watch the antics of screen characters, the more they affect us.
I am not at all suggesting that you stop watching movies and TV shows, but try to follow the implicit messages that you receive thanks to them. Do they make you feel like a failure? Do they distort the view of the real world? How do they affect the demands you place on yourself? Ask these questions every time you watch TV.
About the author: Nathan Feiles is a psychotherapist.