Introduction
This paper presents the positive and negative impacts of the media in connection with psychological issues. Media can accelerate the development of psychological problems and it can eradicate the problem as well. In one point of view, awareness of the problems can be created through media such as movies, television shows, newspapers, magazines etc. In other points of view, it can misinterpret the myths connected with mental and psychological disorders which are dominant in many the societies.
Main body
Media plays a vital role in informing the people on various types of psychological issues predominant in the society. Before the spread of media, psychological problems were unknown to common man. Today, media reaches the results of the researches in every nuke and corner of the world. Psychological problems have been scientifically defined in the past hundred years and the technical development of the media also occurred during these years. Since the diagnosis and study on psychiatric and psychological illness are complicated, it does not appear in every public media. But some of the standard magazines, articles, newspapers, television shows, and movies display the different psychological issues that are seen in our life.
The relation between media and psychological issues can be observed in two ways. First one is the awareness that is given to the society about psychological or psychiatric problems through the media. Second one is the adoption of violent behavior among children by way of watching violent scenes and movies which are the output of the media. “Recent research has shown that connections between children playing violent video games can cause later aggressive behavioral problems. In retrospect studies have also shown a twelve percent increase in aggressive behavior after watching violent television as well.” (Tompkins, 2003, para.1). Therefore, the role of media in psychological issues is very high. Common people become familiar with many of the mental and psychological problems through media. For example, “Monk” is a television show series presented in USA. It displays an Adrian monk who is a private detective and is afflicted by the obsessive-compulsive disorder. From this show, the people get aware of what is obsessive-compulsive disorder and what are symptoms it has. So a disaster also brings emotional imbalance among the victims. Nowadays the aftereffects of disasters and natural calamities can be seen in the newspapers and journals. The media provides the due importance of the emotional imbalance of the victims. These are the outcome of the researches and it is believable and convincing. It helps people throughout the world to know the psychological issues of the victims.
Media can give international coverage of psychological problems. There are a set of social stigmas on the mental and psychological problems in every society. These perceptions can be removed through giving proper guidance and awareness to the people and it is possible only through media. Even though the role of media is very appreciative, it is being criticized for injecting misperception of myths connected to psychological problems prevailing in different societies. “While the media’s portrayal of mentally ill people is still often inaccurate and stigmatizing, efforts to counterbalance popular stereotypes are beginning to pay off.” (Levin, 2001, para.1).
Conclusion
Media can create positive and negative impacts on psychological problems. Today, the plot of many of the movies is of mental and psychological problems with which the main characters are afflicted. Since society does not have clear and accurate information about psychology and psychiatry people are very curious and keen to get an idea of such issues. Therefore the media can influence people greatly about psychological issues.
Reference
Levin, A. (2001). Violence and mental illness: Media keep myths alive. Psychiatric New, 36(9, p.10. Web.
Tompkins, A. (2003). The psychological effects of violent media on children. AllPsych Journal. Web.