Sitcoms distorted
Television Sitcoms project a universally positive image of the typical North American family. Television sitcom images of the typical North American family are very distorted. In my twenty plus years in my private psychotherapy practice I have seen a remarkable change in the clients who come to me. Perhaps I am just seeing a different segment of the population, but I am seeing a lot more teenagers who are in difficulty. Some are having trouble because of the abuse they are suffering from their peers. Many are in trouble because they have got in with “the wrong crowd” and are experimenting with drugs and alcohol. I gather that the drug and alcohol problem has gotten worse. Many of the experts testify to this, and my own practice would seem to confirm it as well.
It is a puzzle to me why television producers are so focused on this false image. Is it because they assume that the audience is unable to think about things that matter? Is it because their only focus is to try to make people laugh even if it insults their intelligence? Clearly the advertisers want as many people as possible to be positively inclined towards their products, even if it is so childish.
What does one do about guaranteeing that our own families are positive and loving? We need to stay connected to our children. This is especially hard in these times when both parents are working outside the home, but enormously worthwhile. Get down on the floor and play with the kids. Read to them. Take them fishing and to family events, and appropriate peer activity. Most importantly, listen to them. Take time to hear their, often disjointed, stories about friends, worries and plans. Let them know that no matter what happens, you are in their corner. Let them talk about their concerns, their interests and their problems. If parents did this they would prevent many of the problems that I have been seeing. They would also profoundly enrich their own lives as they get to know their children in a new way.
That is what I think. What do you think?