OK, so I'm annoyed. Last night, I was watching "Ghost Whisperer" and they've gone all horror movie on me. The show began as a very moving drama with a spiritual/fantasy component, complex characters, a positive spin and great writing, which was delightful. Now it's deteriorating into the kind of horror fourteen year-old-boys want to watch, and I don't. I can't tell you how many series I began watching have gone downhill like this, soon after they became successful. I suspect they pull the good writers off once the series is established, and the second-string hacks come in, who can't think beyond explosions, visual effects and shock. I find it maddening, and I'll stop watching if the trend continues, as I have before.
Dr. Romance knows that movies, video games and TV have a profound effect on the subconscious, and that what we watch changes us. Research shows newscasts increase anxiety, violent behavior, and expectations of being victimized. Visual images are powerful, whether self- induced, as in visualization (which professional athletes use to enhance performance) or supplied by various media. But we are changed in other ways, too. We become more cynical upon exposure to a lot of bad news. We become less polite if we watch shows celebrating adolescent, obnoxious and rude behavior. Thinking critically and objectively about what you view will lessen this effect, but refusing to view it all together is even more effective. If your anxiety level is high, try limiting your TV and movie watching to the more positive stuff, and check out these guidelines from my website.
Have you noticed how the news or violent, scary shows affect you?
