Analyzing TV Shows' Impact on Moral Development in Young Children

This assignment analyzes two television shows, "A Child's Mind: How Kids Learn Right & Wrong" and "Born to be Good? Moral Development in Children", to determine which is more suitable for promoting moral development in young children. The assignment requires detailed descriptions of each show, including characters, plot, and moral of the episode. It examines the positive and negative effects of media, referencing theories like Bandura’s social cognitive theory (Din,2010), and provides insights into the appropriate age for children to start watching TV (Guru,2013). The analysis delves into the role of advertisements (Harris,2010) and the overall influence of television on children's moral senses (Pecora,2017). The student concludes that although the content of the first show is rich, the second show is more visually engaging and therefore more appropriate for the target audience. The assignment highlights how media can be used to impart positive moral values to children and emphasizes the importance of considering the potential impacts of media on their developing minds.

Show #1 Show #2
Title A Child's Mind: How Kids Learn
Right & Wrong
Born to be good moral development
Network
Length 33:30 Minutes 50 Mins
Description of
characters
Katherine Sheridan, She is a Ph.D.
holder in Psychology
Laslie Ketch, She is a faculty
member of Louis University
Artin Goncu
Kids in the age group of 4 to 7
Alison Gopnik, A celebrated author.
Paul Bloom, Professor of Yale
University
Kiley Hamlin, Professor, British
Columbia
Felix Warneken; Yale University
Valerie Kuhlmeier; Professor,
Queen’s University.
Kang Lee, University of Toronto.
Description of
show
The show mainly deals with the
problem of the kid’s learning
curve. The experts took the support
of Piaget's theory, Kohlberg’s
theory and other frameworks to
explain a few things.
The narrative of this docudrama
The narrative of the show
encapsulates the moral journey of a
kid right from the word go and how
this journey can be controlled with
the help of the right kind of
interventions. The story of this
docudrama moves ahead with certain

film first introduces the viewers
with the dilemma’s that parent may
face while up bringing their kids.
In the second act, it tells about the
theoretical frameworks that can be
applied. Finally, it tells us about
the difference in the opinion of the
experts and how this variation can
make a difference.
dramatic representations and the
narrator raises some poignant
questions about the milestones of the
learning that a kid passes through.
This film also explains about some
positive interventions that can make
a difference in this equation.
Moral of the
episode
As a parent or the caregiver, we
can develop pro-social models in
front of the kids and set some
examples in front of them. Media,
music, and cinema should be
designed in accordance with these
pro-social models because they can
act as a strong influence on the
kids and the toddlers.
Media and other art forms can be
introduced as a positive influence in
the life of a kid, a message said with
the help of a media vehicle carries
more entertainment value and the
same fact is true about its impact on
the morality of the kids. Media can
be utilized as an entertaining way to
make preach good moral values.
Advertisements/
Commercials
None None
In the following three responses, you must use at least 3 references (in-text citations) from
readings or other research you have found on moral development. Your response should be

detailed and in complete sentences.
Same Show as above #1 Same show as above #2
Positive effects
on moral
development
Bandura’s social cognitive theory
has the power to explain certain
influences caused by media and
other such vehicles. Media as a
vehicle presents a strong example
because of its appalling nature and
impact over the kids. Media can be
utilized as an effective medium to
preach the right moral values to the
kids (Din,2010).
A dramatization of the messages and
the special interest messages based
on the popular art forms can leave a
lasting impact on the kids. they need
positive entertainment and their need
for entertainment can be utilized in a
positive manner by designing some
strong messages.
Negative effects
on moral
development
Media is not interactive in nature;
it leaves some strong messages
inside the brain of a kid.
Sometimes it becomes difficult for
the parents and the caregivers to
adjudge the negative impacts of the
media. Sometimes the entertaining
portrayal of negative impact on the
kids.
Sometimes it can become difficult
for a presenter to control the flow of
emotions in a kid. While designing
any such message the individuals
should never forget about the
milestone of the kid’s life, otherwise,
a message can lose its impact.

Which show do
you play? Why? The content is rich, it makes a great
sense, however, it is not fit for the
television because, and television
is a medium of the masses. As a
medium, television demand visuals
to propagate a message and this
documentary lack in that
department.
The second show offers more visual
variety and rich in terms of the
action. This show creates appalling
visuals and the impact is long-lasting
and caters to the masses. Moreover,
it sets an inspiring model with the
help of the visuals and this is what
audiences always want to see.
The correct age for the kids to start watching TV
Kids should not watch TV prior to the age of 2 because the American Academy of the
Pediatrics suggests that as a medium TV can sound a little too complex for the kids at this
age. They may fail in grasping the content and lose valuable time of interaction on other
mediums (Guru,2013).
The influence of Television on the moral senses of the kids
Television is a very strong medium, it has the power to leave some long-lasting impacts on
the psychology of the kids because most of the television serials and other methods like songs
and jingles leave a strong message, this message is strong because it captures all the senses of
the kids in a single stroke and leaves a lasting impact on them. If the message is positive and
it preaches morality then it is fine, otherwise, it can pollute the mind of the kid and drive him
away from the moral practices (Pecora,2017).
The role of advertisements in the development of the moral senses
Advertisements cannot be differentiated from regular programming. The purpose of a regular
program is to entertain (Harris,2010). Whereas the purpose of an advertisement is to entertain

a kid and place a product in the lifestyle of the kids, Most of the advertisers are aware of this
fact and this is why they also try to preach good moral values with the help of advertisements
(Haughland, 2012).
The benefits of the Television
Most of the parents can never say that they versatile in nature, they have their own set of
limitations when it comes to catering to the entertainment and knowledge-based needs of
their kids. Television can serve as a versatile medium and fill in this huge gap by providing a
variety of content. It is easily available and it presents a mass-friendly economic option
(Heather,2011).

References
Din FS, Calao J (2010) The effects of playing educational video games on kindergarten
achievement. Child Study Journal 31: 95-102.
Harris, Jennifer L, John A, Bargh, Kelly DB (2009) Priming effects of television food
advertising on eating behavior. Health Psychology28: 404-413.
Haugland SW (1992) The effect of computer software on preschool children’s developmental
gains. Journal of Computing in Childhood Education 3: 15-30.
Heather L, Kirkorian, Ellen A, Wartella, Daniel RA (2008) Media and young children’s
learning. Spring 18: 39-61.
Mahesh Chandra Guru BP, Nabi A, Ruslana R (2013) Role of Television in Child
Development. J Mass Communication Journalism 3:153. doi:10.4172/2165-
7912.1000153
Pecora, Norma, John P, Murray, and Ellen Ann Wartella (2017) Children and television: fifty
years of research, Mahwah, New Jersey, and London: LEA.