Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Reel Hero’s and real ……….?

Since I spend two third of my time in a day with adolescence. I know how much this film actors, celebrities’ sports stars and public figures act upon young mind. Especially their life styles their opinions, their stand on the societal customs and norms. The way they respect and act on to retain the social institutions. It may be parenting, marriage or some taboos.  
The time when transition takes place in one’s life from childhood to adulthood what we call ‘adolescence’ are in search of the answer “who I am” the answer can be seen on the bedroom walls different posters of their so called role models. This may be a film hero’s sports star public entertainer who always can be seen in their TV screen. But I am sure it’s never the people who work for a cause social service activist freedom fighter at large.
The influence of the people who always hit on the main pages of the news paper who shine in the channel who’s posters can be seen in the public places are quite high with young mind.
If you want to notice the developmental stages of the of a person or to understand the developmental stages proposed by either Erickson or Piaget take a look into the bedroom of a child if its female the whole room will be filled with Barbie dolls books posters dresses Barbie cosmetics if its boy Ben10, Spider man. When the child turns 12 or 14 Ben10 is replaced by sports stars, film hero’s celebrities books are film fare, sports star and automobile magazines. This is because they are busy with identifying themselves in this process they keep some role models who will fit into their ideal self.
According to Erickson’s psychosocial stages development adolescence is the period when young adults attempt to develop identity and idea about their strengths, weaknesses, goals, occupations sexual identity and gender roles. Teens try different identities and they have so many possibilities. Since this stage of development primarily depends upon what one does to himself or in other words he takes responsibility of his growth and development. The life during this time definitely getting more complex as an attempt to find own identity.
The role of the film stars and celebrities are immense in this stage as adolescence wants attention in the society hence they fall upon to follow these people and read about them try to imitate them who fix into their image. On an average we find the role models are mainly from the stardom- the hero’s in the reel the hero’s whom they admire. But the question arises Are these hero’s good example for these young mind? When obviously there is a mismatch with the hero’s real life and reel life what appears to be depicted as flowery movies is not the real itself- life is no always with happy endings as in movies. In the reel life he succeeds in spite of all mishappenings and in reality???? Some cases of divorce, drink and drive, abuse in the public places misbehavior cheating etc which really what they fight on the screen but in reality that element is missing in most of the cases. Hence our young mind may  believe some time what their role model says it’s also because of prestige suggestion and adolescence are more suggestible during this period with respect to the self image.
Albert Bandura social learning theorist suggests that people tend to display behaviors’ that are learned intentionally or through the influence of examples. Since identity formation is the central focus during adolescence, adolescents are particularly influenced by adults in the environment. (Erickson) adolescents often look to adults in order to determine as well as to identify models of whom they want to be like.
Now in an age where we have more contact with celebrities’ gossips than we have ever had we are faced with a question. Are our young adults are getting good examples to imitate, model and set examples.
Culture idols need to think twice before making a poor decision because of their influence on their young fans and other people who may look up to them.
Media certainly plays a big role in celebrity obsession because of widespread audience and profit involved. When it comes to family and marriage the couple who lived for say 25 to 30 years together need to pay the news paper to publish their anniversary photos and good message of the mantra of staying together, in this present so called self centered society. But when it comes to separation divorce especially the stardom news papers and visual media is keen in bringing the full page information like a deductive. Media has better diary of the celebrities where when what and how of the separation and there comes a huge real story of a reel hero.   
What I stress is-Yes people do have pressure in life and every individual has a personal way of coping. But  in  divorce, drink, harassment or whatever  is it right on the part of media to leak out their private life instead of giving space required at such time?.
If media and the stardom can act more responsibly to be a good example for these tender minds not to develop negative attitude towards some of the social institutions which will spiflicate the future.
ALL THAT BEGINS WELL ENDS WELL so let adolescent begin well so that life ends well
Not to say PICTURE ABHI BHAKI HEI

Madhusoodan. Sunnambala   
                                                                                     Psychologist