Final answer:
Television has been shown to have a strong socializing effect, shaping societal norms, but excessive viewing correlates with poor academic performance and might increase aggression and desensitization to violence among children. Additionally, it can lead to reduced political engagement due to the saturation of content and the decline in viewership of civic events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Harmful Effects of Television on Society
According to the argument provided, television has several harmful effects on society. One such effect is its socializing impact, which shapes and reinforces social norms, values, and beliefs. This reinforcement can have negative impacts if the content is violent or disruptive. Additionally, excessive television viewing is linked to poor academic performance, where students watching more television tend to perform worse on exams. Studies imply that violent content on television can lead to increased aggression and desensitization to violence among viewers, particularly children. The saturation of television and the vast selection of content available has also led to a decline in viewership of important civic events like the president's State of the Union address, indicating a potentially negative impact on political engagement and awareness.
Desensitization and Aggression
Research suggesting desensitization is based on findings that indicate a correlation between exposure to violent media content and increased aggressive thoughts and behaviors. This desensitization effect, which comes from repetitive exposure to violent acts, may reduce sensitivity and increase tolerance to real-life violence. While some studies highlight this correlation, others cannot conclusively link violent media consumption to criminal violence, suggesting more research is needed.