Halloween scare? Just follow today's news or prime time TV shows

October 14, 2014  


Glenn Sparks

Glenn Sparks
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Today's headlines are full of Ebola, war, kidnappings and beheadings, and yet many people still turn to fictional television shows filled with doomsday violence and grief, says a Purdue University mass media effects expert.

"Real-life fears are pervasive in the news, yet people are flocking to shows with violence and suspense that is quite close to what is happening in the real world," says Glenn Sparks, a professor of communication who studies the effects of frightening images. "I think one motivation for viewing these shows is the desire to obtain some sense of control over many of the events that are happening right now around the world. There is a sense in which people look for control through entertainment and a feeling that they have mastered circumstances that seem overwhelming."

Sparks says some viewers find comfort when they see depictions of people operating in and mastering a world filled with fear and uncertainty. Viewers identify with characters who are navigating disease or war as an opportunity to escape reality.

But Sparks says this may only be a temporary fix, and too many frightening images, whether from the news or entertainment, can take their toll. Emotional disturbances can increase anxiety and affect sleep habits.

"While it may feel like an escape, there can be an emotional toll that lingers," Sparks says. "Sometimes the best escape is just to turn off the TV." 

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Glenn Sparks, gsparks@purdue.edu 

Related websites:

College of Liberal Arts

Brian Lamb School of Communication

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