Do movies and television affect our behaviour? I believe that movies and television do influence our behaviour, both for the better and for the worse.

            Movies and television influence our behaviour because they make us less active. Looking at films is a passive activity. If we watch too much, we become unhealthy, both mentally and physically. We stop using our own imagination when we see things acted out for us. Mental laziness becomes physical laziness; we would rather watch sports on TV than play sports ourselves. We would rather visit with the characters on "Seinfeld" or "Friends" than going chat with our own neighbours. Imaginary people have exciting lives. Is it any wonder that some people would rather live a fantasy life than their own? Movies and television also can make people more violent. The more we see violent acts on television, the less sensitive we become to them: Eventually, violence does not seem wrong.

            We may even commit violent acts ourselves. This is especially true because we do not always realise that violence has consequences. Actors can be killed and come back for another movie.

            Sometimes we confuse that with reality. We forget that killing someone is permanent.

            Of course, watching movies and television can also be good for us. It can give us a broader window on the world. For example, seeing movies can expose us to people of different races and cultures. We can then overcome some prejudices more easily. Recently there have been more handicapped people in films, and this also helps reduce prejudice.

            The best influence on our behaviour is that movies and television reduce stress. Watching films, we can escape our own problems for a little while. Also, sometimes movies show positive ways to resolve problems we all face. While TV and movies should not be a way to hide from life, sometimes they can help us cope.

            It is true that movies and television can influence our behaviour negatively. However, I also believe that they influence our behaviour in positive ways. How they affect you depends on how much you watch, what you watch, and how you respond to what you watch.