I find myself reluctant to relate to the campaign promoting the TV show “The Shock”. Many Saudis have become part of the drive praising the program being aired during Ramadan.
It is a situation-based reality show wherein a couple of actors are filmed doing something outrageous to gauge the reaction of people around them.
The artists are made to do different things for example, a daughter shouting at her mother in public, a minor asking an adult to buy him a pack of cigarettes or a man harassing a woman in public etc.
Needless to say, the show creates an emotionally charged environment. Seeing complete strangers intervening on behalf of the character wronged in the act makes one feel good. It rekindles the hopes for the ultimate victory of truth or goodness over evil.
The most common reaction to the program goes like, “It sure is good to know that there are still good people out there.”
Now keep the emotional part aside. The program is marketed as an educational program that is promoting moral values and ethics. Personally, I find myself hesitant to accept such a claim.
First and foremost, the moral issues the program is tackling are universal in nature. Ask anyone about why sons and daughters should be respectful to their parents or why a kid should not be allowed to buy cigarettes or above eve-teasing. You would receive more or less same answers around the world.
Moral values are developed through different stages of growth. Values like these are universal, cutting through the barriers of culture and religion; we all grow learning them in one way or the other.
The late Harvard psychologist, Lawrence Kohlberg, had developed a psychological model that explained how moral values were developed. They are not developed at once, they take time and go through different stages just as there are stages of physical growth. From the early days of childhood when kids learn about the right and wrong from the authoritative figures in their lives, to adolescent years when morals are shaped through loyalties to one’s family, religion, culture and country. Till the days of adulthood, when morals are shaped based on the right and wrong from a universal point of view, from the ideals of justice or human rights or human welfare.
Such facts make it difficult to stomach the claim that moral values could be instilled among the masses through such television programs. The reason why people are enthusiastic about such shows is that they are moving the audience emotionally.
According to psychologist Drew Pinsky, “The reality is people only watch things that are dramatic. People are drawn to dysfunctional behaviors, but you have to use that desire to watch it to create opportunities to teach.” When watching such a show it is possible that we feel content and proud that we are not making a fool of ourselves the way the characters on the reality show are, as Valancia Gardner blogged about the values portrayed on reality TV.
The bottom line is that such shows are pure entertainment and are not that much different from any other entertainment show like candid camera shows for instance; their effect is instantaneous, driven by the heat of the moment and trust me they do not make a lasting impression on the viewers. Moreover, such shows should not be labeled as “social experiments.”
Social experimentation implies sampling, control and analysis in a scientific manner. It is fine if you like watching the show, just do not give it more credit than it deserves.
It is a situation-based reality show wherein a couple of actors are filmed doing something outrageous to gauge the reaction of people around them.
The artists are made to do different things for example, a daughter shouting at her mother in public, a minor asking an adult to buy him a pack of cigarettes or a man harassing a woman in public etc.
Needless to say, the show creates an emotionally charged environment. Seeing complete strangers intervening on behalf of the character wronged in the act makes one feel good. It rekindles the hopes for the ultimate victory of truth or goodness over evil.
The most common reaction to the program goes like, “It sure is good to know that there are still good people out there.”
Now keep the emotional part aside. The program is marketed as an educational program that is promoting moral values and ethics. Personally, I find myself hesitant to accept such a claim.
First and foremost, the moral issues the program is tackling are universal in nature. Ask anyone about why sons and daughters should be respectful to their parents or why a kid should not be allowed to buy cigarettes or above eve-teasing. You would receive more or less same answers around the world.
Moral values are developed through different stages of growth. Values like these are universal, cutting through the barriers of culture and religion; we all grow learning them in one way or the other.
The late Harvard psychologist, Lawrence Kohlberg, had developed a psychological model that explained how moral values were developed. They are not developed at once, they take time and go through different stages just as there are stages of physical growth. From the early days of childhood when kids learn about the right and wrong from the authoritative figures in their lives, to adolescent years when morals are shaped through loyalties to one’s family, religion, culture and country. Till the days of adulthood, when morals are shaped based on the right and wrong from a universal point of view, from the ideals of justice or human rights or human welfare.
Such facts make it difficult to stomach the claim that moral values could be instilled among the masses through such television programs. The reason why people are enthusiastic about such shows is that they are moving the audience emotionally.
According to psychologist Drew Pinsky, “The reality is people only watch things that are dramatic. People are drawn to dysfunctional behaviors, but you have to use that desire to watch it to create opportunities to teach.” When watching such a show it is possible that we feel content and proud that we are not making a fool of ourselves the way the characters on the reality show are, as Valancia Gardner blogged about the values portrayed on reality TV.
The bottom line is that such shows are pure entertainment and are not that much different from any other entertainment show like candid camera shows for instance; their effect is instantaneous, driven by the heat of the moment and trust me they do not make a lasting impression on the viewers. Moreover, such shows should not be labeled as “social experiments.”
Social experimentation implies sampling, control and analysis in a scientific manner. It is fine if you like watching the show, just do not give it more credit than it deserves.
