Psychological Analysis: Social Interaction
by
A. Scott

The Question

Is media use in Britain a more or less social activity than in the US? If so, what are the consequences of this?

Methods/Results: Television

Based on the research conducted earlier during this class, it would have to be argued that media use in Britain is, less of a social activity here than in the US.

In general British television has fewer channels than that of the US. Current British television programs are very different from than in the States. British television does have its share of soap operas, and game shows, but overall their television is not saturated nearly as much with highly addictive sitcoms, night-time/ day-time soap operas, dramas, that we in the US are all to familiar with. Because radio has developed much further in Britain rather than the States, this would lead to the assumption that it is a much more highly used medium.

Conclusions

Unlike television, radio is a medium in which addiction becomes unlikely. In a sociological perspective, radio provides a more personal choice catered exclusively to one’s own taste. Radio specifically caters to a sort of background theme to our lives. It doesn’t ask for undivided attention, but instead seems to flow well rather than listen completely or ignored. The affects of radio as opposed to television are subtle. In the US for instance excessive television viewing has created an increase in problems that have left many researchers re-questioning whether life really does imitate art of vice versa. Radio has none of those effects. Therefore, the consequences of such are that Britain has a less media influenced society.