Kathleen Taylor

There is in fact considerable evidence that mass media models of the world we live in have a significant impact on us. These portrayals of 'real life' (...) can shape our behaviour in ways we may not recognize. Studies in Britain and the United States, for exemple, consistently show a fear of crime which is out of proportion to the actual risks of being a victim, but which reflects the proportion of attention devoted by the media to crime. Television shows provide extremely distorted versions of reality. (...) in the world of television beautiful people are much more common than in real life, as are doctors and lawyers, while positive role models of scientists, the elderly, the disabled, or ethnic minorities are much less common. We all think we know it's not real, yet US studies have clearly shown that people who watch more television have a more distorted, racist world view than those who watch less. Television can affect behaviour as well as attitudes.