Behind and in front of the screen: Television's involvement with family life

by Barrie Gunter, Michael Svennevig

Television today is an integral part of the family household and at the same time family groups form a central feature of some television programmes. Thus, television is intertwined with family life both behind and in front of the screen. But what is the nature of television's involvement with the family? What do families watch? How are decisions about viewing taken in family households? How is family life portrayed on television and how does it reflect back on those families watching? Does television teach about, and thereby influence, aspects of family behaviour? This monograph reviews research from Britain, Europe, North America and other parts of the world which looks at the way TV represents families and the way in which it is used, and perhaps influences, family housholds. It answers those critics who accuse television of being a disruptive influence on the family both through its presence in the home and through the lessons and values it may communicate. Instead, the authors argue that research evidence reveals that television can, in fact, serve to bring the family closer together and give them something to talk about.

97 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Barrie Gunter is Emeritus Professor in Media at the University of Leicester, UK. He was Head of the Department of Media and Communication at Leicester (2004-2012) and prior to that, founding Professor of Journalism at the University of Sheffield for 10 years. The early part of Barrie’s career was spent in the broadcasting industry in audience research. Barrie is a psychologist by training who has written and contributed to approximately 70 books and over 400 other publications and reports on media, marketing, business and psychology topics.