Which of the following are positive effects of television on behaviour?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → It provides a large amount of infotainment in an attractive form
Television has both positive and negative effects on behaviour, and research on children shows a mixed impact.
Option (1) It provides a large amount of infotainment in an attractive form — Correct. This is the positive side: television gives information and entertainment together, in an attractive visual form, which made it a powerful medium of instruction.
Option (2) It affects childrens ability to concentrate — Incorrect. This is a negative effect: programmes may distract young viewers and interfere with their ability to concentrate on one target.
Option (3) It affects the aggression and violence level of viewers — Incorrect. Research found that watching violence on television was linked to greater aggressiveness, children tending to imitate what they saw. This is a harmful effect, though some studies say other factors must also be present.
Option (4) It has led to consumerism — Incorrect. Numerous products are advertised, and viewers get carried away, so a consumerist attitude has developed in adults and children. This too is a negative effect.
Note: The positive and negative effects of television on behaviour were there in the chapter ‘Psychology and Life’ of the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, and are not there in the NCERT book (2025-26). This question has been picked from the pre-rationalised NCERT.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “Impact of Television on Behaviour … There is no doubt that television has been a useful product of technological progress. However, from the point of its psychological impact on human beings, both positive and negative effects have been observed.…” “…First, television provides a large amount of infotainment in an attractive form, and in the visual mode, for which it became a powerful medium of instruction. At the same time, because the programmes are attractive, children spend huge amounts of time watching them. This reduces their habit of reading and writing, and also their outdoor activities such as playing.…” “…Second, television watching may have an effect on children’s ability to concentrate on one target, their creativity and ability to understand, and also their social interactions. On one hand, there are excellent programmes that emphasise positive interpersonal attitudes and provide useful factual information, teaching children how to design and construct certain objects. On the other hand, these programmes may distract young viewers and interfere with their ability to concentrate on one target.…” “…Third, about forty years ago a serious debate was raised in the USA and Canada regarding the effect of television viewing on aggressiveness and violence among the viewers, especially children. As discussed earlier in the context of aggression, the results of research showed that watching violence on television was, indeed, linked to greater aggressiveness in the viewers.…” “…Fourth, in the case of adults as well as children, it is said that a consumerist attitude has developed, and this is due to television watching. Numerous products are advertised, and it is very natural for the viewer to get carried away.…” |