Television exposure and children's decoding of nonverbal behavior

Author(s): Coats, E. J., Spielman, D. A.

Journal/Book: J Appl Soc Psychol. 1996; 26: 360 South Ocean Blvd, pH-B, Palm Beach, FL 33480. V H Winston & Son Inc. 1718-1733.

Abstract: Two studies considered rite way in which the magnitude of exposure to television relates to children's understanding and interpretation of others' nonverbal behavior. In the first study, 6th graders made judgments regarding other children whose nonverbal facial behavior did not match their internal emotional state. Results showed that heavier television viewers held a less differentiated, more simplistic view of the consequences of nonverbal self-presentation strategies. In the second study, children in Grades 2 through 6 made judgments of others' nonverbal expressions of emotion. As predicted, heavier television viewers were better at decoding others' nonverbal expressions than lighter viewers, presumably because of their greater exposure to nonverbal displays of emotion on television. In addition, nonverbal decoding skills improved with age.

Note: Article RS Feldman, Univ Massachusetts, Dept Psychol, Tobin Hall, Amherst, MA 01003 USA

Keyword(s): FACIAL EXPRESSION; SOCIAL COMPETENCE; SKILLS; SOCIALIZATION; EMOTIONS; STYLES; AGE

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