“I'm addicted to television”: The personality, imagination, and TV watching patterns of self‐identified TV addicts

Abstract

Twenty four of 237 adults surveyed agreed with the statement “I'm addicted to television.” They ranged from 18 to 72 years old. Respondents completed the TV Addiction Scale (Smith, 1986), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1975), Short Imaginal Processes Inventory (Huba, Singer, Aneshensel, & Antrobus, 1982), and Television Use Styles Inventory (Schallow & Mcllwraith, 1986–87). Compared with the rest of the sample, self‐labelled “TV addicts” were more neurotic, introverted, and easily bored. They more often used TV to distract them‐selvesfrom unpleasant thoughts, regulate moods, and fill time. Thegroups did not differ in positive fantasy.