Content Analysis of Physical Affection Within Television Families During the 2006–2007 Season of US Children's Programming

Abstract

This study examines the prevalence and nature of physical affection between television family members featured in the understudied area of US children's television programming. Affection is one of six fundamental human needs and a primary communication behavior. Television serves as a primary socialization factor for young children who can model many viewed behaviors. Results show that physical affection among family members is common in such programming and free of gender differences in terms of initiating affection. As for receiving affection, however, male family members received, on average, significantly more affection than female members. Additional differences and patterns of initiation and reception emerge when family position is analyzed. Sons receive more affection from parents than daughters, especially from mothers. Parents initiated affection toward their children far more frequently than children to parents and more often than toward their spouse. Brothers and sisters did not differ in the amount of initiating or receiving affection.

Keywords:

• content analysis
• cultivation
• family communication
• parenting
• physical affection
• nonverbal communication
• social learning
• television
• viewing