Are movies really damaging our brain and affecting our mental abilities?

[newmark]

I feel more refreshed and alive when I don't watch TV. I don't think sitting still in itself is a problem. Meditation can help improve concentration. When watching TV, however, you are exposing yourself to a stream of constantly changing images. And these don't engage you as much as reading or having a conversation with somebody.
I no longer watch TV (apart from at friends houses sometimes) and I feel better for it. My concentration is better. Reading is a richer experience for me. Or listening to music I love. Or having conversations.
Too much TV or internet surfing can damage my health. I have no evidence for this other than the feelings I have when I do watch a lot compared to when I choose other activities.

[bluedragon]

Exactly. I feel physically drained when I watch, even though I am sitting still an making no effort. If I meditated for an hour, I would feel overflowing with energy, positivity, and calm, contained joy. The two have nothing in common.

[Curtis2011]

If you are a fan of Dr. Hawkins, he teaches that anything negative (such as people dying in a movie) will cause your body to react negatively, so you should avoid negative movies to keep healthy.

Also, there is research that says children under age 5 cannot tell the difference between a movie and real life. So, what they see in a movie, they think is real. This can seriously f- up a child's brain.

[Maxwell Jennings]

Although the old adage of too much of anything is not good is subjective in that people differ in how they adapt to situations, as humans, too much of anything for anyone can cause big changes in the mind/body systems. The mind/brain will try to adapt to the stimulus at hand, and if that stimulus is particular and repeated often and for extended periods, then the mind/brain will dedicate itself to performing that particular task or responding to the stimulus. The brain will actually rewire itself. Brain cell will grow in the required areas but the brain will also allow brain cells to not be replaced in unused areas, effectively killing off or dimishing abilities.

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

If you are a fan of Dr. Hawkins, he teaches that anything negative (such as people dying in a movie) will cause your body to react negatively, so you should avoid negative movies to keep healthy.

That must be the reason why I, watching only the best of the best movies, took on so many of the qualities of the main characters.

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Also, there is research that says children under age 5 cannot tell the difference between a movie and real life.

Can we?

Originally Posted by Maxwell Jennings

The brain will actually rewire itself. Brain cell will grow in the required areas but the brain will also allow brain cellsm to not be replaced in unused areas, effectively killing off or dimishing abilities.

Well, I'm now practicing memory techniques from Harry Loraine's book. I think my brain will start rewiring itself big time - for efficiency.

[Lauxa]

There was one study showing that watching a favorite TV show stimulated the same part of the brain as spending time with friends. This could be a good coping mechanism for someone with no friends, or a damaging one if friends are rejected in favor of TV.

If you want video that isn't so jumpy and confusing, try the TED talks or Google Tech Talks, these are just watching a presentation and I think would not be at all damaging.

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Lauxa

There was one study showing that watching a favorite TV show stimulated the same part of the brain as spending time with friends. This could be a good coping mechanism for someone with no friends, or a damaging one if friends are rejected in favor of TV.

I can totally relate to that. While watching movies, I feel as if everything is perfectly OK. I wish I had as many friends to make me feel as in a movie. Especially when the movie shows people who have many friends, such as in Sex and the City. If I had 3 friends who knew one another and we all went out together consistently, I think it would be heaven. My best friends don't know one another, and the best I can hope for is a one-on-one conversation over a cup of coffee with one of them. They are also very busy (working in jobs they don't like, of course). We rarely meet. I really want to get more, many more friends.

Originally Posted by Lauxa

If you want video that isn't so jumpy and confusing, try the TED talks or Google Tech Talks, these are just watching a presentation and I think would not be at all damaging.

I also believe "talks" are not damaging. Stand up comedy would be the same, I guess.

[Andrew Brunelle]

I wouldn't say that they are damaging and some of them are fantastic. I just wouldn't watch 5 a day for 10 years. What I would do is not watch too many movies. It is a sedentrary activity and it does put your brain into alpha state much like watching television does. But a movie now and then won't destroy your neurotransmitters. And a comedy may even make you feel better if you've had a bad day.

[Charly]

Honestly, I don't buy it. I see what you are getting at, but other than epilepsy for some people, I just can't see a healthy brain being that vulnerable.

That is, however, my purely intuitive and unfounded opinion.

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

But a movie now and then won't destroy your neurotransmitters.

But how about 2 movies now and then? Or one and a half movie? There is a fine line. If movies are damaging you can limit your exposure, as you suggest. But if they are not, then you can watch them to your convenience.

If, for example, I will one day have everything in my real life that I can see in movies, shouldn't I avoid movies at all costs, in case they puzzle my brain and diminish my attention and focus capacity? Why do some people avoid alcohol? You could say a beer or two now and then won't kill you, but some would still suggest that it's better to avoid drinking. The same with eating meat. A hamburger won't kill you, but it helps to know if a hamburger is harmful to your body or not.

That's what I want to know about movies.

In any case, this is my 6th day of no movies, and I really enjoy reading at any time of the day. I don't crave movies at all, although a week ago I wouldn't have dreamed to go to bed without watching or browsing through movies for at least an hour.

I am also getting pretty good at memorizing phone numbers and all kinds of things using memory techniques. The mental exercise makes me feel smarter than I did before.

Not watching movies did bring the notion of "boredom" back into my vocabulary (for the first time in 10 years), but I can honestly say I am not bored these last days.

AND - one night, I noticed that there is a moon in the sky (not that I didn't "moon-gaze" before, but I noticed it in a whole different light). I said to myself - "as long as we have a moon, everything's OK"

[ginkgo]

Now for anyone saying that watching movies is bad, then if they make a movie about Steve Pavlina's life (where he played himself in the movie), then they are saying that it would be bad to watch that movie. Also what if a terrorist watches the movie Gandhi and then becomes a non-violent person and does not kill your kids?

Did you think that Ronald Reagan was a bad president. Without movies, he would have never become president. Some ask is being on forums bad. Without movies, the governor of CA would not be governor. Is watching the news bad? Is having sex if you do not want to have kids bad? Is enjoying yourself bad?

Movies are not bad for you anymore than being in front of the computer screen. Now you are talking about something different. You are talking about what you do with your time.

For example there are many things to choose to do with your time. So here are the questions. Is it better to watch a movie or go out a rape a woman after robbing a store. Everyone has to choose what to do with their time. What about watching a movie or going out drinking, which is better.

I have never drank alcohol in my life but have watched lots of movies. You can see from my website below that it has not affected my intelligence.

Now for a Christian I wish I could say that they would say that it is better to read the bible or go to church than watch TV or a movie. But I cannot. They have Trinity Broadcasting Network. It has movies and shows that teach you about Jesus and their religion.

Now if someone watches movies and does not work a job, he can become homeless. But that is not from watching TV or a movie. Many watch TV and smoke pot. Also if you have a choice between watching a movie or doing work on your own business, the latter is more profitable.

But watching TV is entertainment like watching football while getting drunk, or playing bingo or many other things. So is playing bingo bad for you? Now if I watch a movie and do nothing, that is very different than watching a movie while eating dinner since then watching the movie takes none of my time.

Also watching a movie and doing nothing is different than watching a movie and doing exercise while watching it. The same with writing an article, answering an email etc.

Then there is the matter of what you watch. Is it good to have friends? Well if those friends encourage you to rape, steal and take drugs then it is bad to have friends. In fact most bad activities are caused by friends.

So should someone get on this forum every time he needs to decide what to do between 2 things. Now I also read a great deal as you can tell with all the quotes on my website. My webpage on fasting has quotes from 19 MDs. Now I feel that reading a fiction book is no more productive than watching that story as a movie and it takes less time.

I only read non-fiction. You can learn how to create websites from reading whereas reading a fiction movie in a book, does not teach you anything. Now any Muslim terrorist will tell you that it is better to go and kill Americans than watch a movie.

Also if people are negative and depressed, going out drinking will not help. But if they watch a positive and uplifting movie, that can help them. Your question is similar to is fire good? It can burn your house down, but can also heat your home.

[newmark]

There are a number of possible problems with watching too much TV.

One is that watching constantly changing scenes may affect the attention span of the viewers.

Two is that watching TV is a mainly passive activity, and watching too much might mean you eventually become more passive.

Three is that some kinds of program and movie are quite negative and spending your time absorbing negative emotions and thoughts is unhealthy.

Four is that by watching too much TV you do not have the time to do other things that might be more beneficial.

I think that no one is saying that sometimes watching films damages your health.
However, some people watch a lot of TV. Quite often children and old people, but not only them, and I think this is unhealthy.

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by newmark

I think that no one is saying that sometimes watching films damages your health.

I will find some links and report back. I assure you some ARE saying it. But as I said, alcohol is also bad, but some are saying that a glass of wine a day is "good for the heart". The important thing, however, is to KNOW if alcohol is or is not harmful. How much of it you decide to indulge in is your business. Life is short anyway. But that doesn't change the nature of the problem - how alcohol acts on the brain, and the chemical transformations it produces - I think it's good to KNOW.

Originally Posted by ginkgo

Now for anyone saying that watching movies is bad, then if they make a movie about Steve Pavlina's life (where he played himself in the movie), then they are saying that it would be bad to watch that movie. Also what if a terrorist watches the movie Gandhi and then becomes a non-violent person and does not kill your kids?

I hope you realize you are talking about a completely different thing than this thread is all about. Not that I mind you taking the discussion elsewhere. As long as we also remain focused on understanding the relation between watching fast-moving, ever changing scenes while remaining still and focusing your eyes on a static screen that creates the illusion of 3D dynamic action. I think I have made my point clear by now - I don't care about the content. We are not making movie reviews here. Movies have helped ME as well become a much better person. The question is - have they also made my brain much slower? By 0.000001% ? I don't care. I want to understand the effect. And I will show you what some experts are saying on the topic, at least, from what I could find on the net. Maybe with your help we will find out that those people are misguided or that they are not experts. But maybe they are.

Are you sure that we wouldn't be much more socially intelligent had we NEVER EVER seen any MOVING IMAGES that were not happening in REALITY ?

[Ronnock]

I have often wondered the same thing myself and once did an editorial for my college writing class about the effects of Public Programmed Television on the development of a child's brain in relation to ADHD. I do somewhat agree with the relative theory that fast moving objects and scenery while being sedentary (physically) could be very misleading for the brain and could potentially cause some kind of issue with reflexive reaction and synapse movement.

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Ronnock

I have often wondered the same thing myself and once did an editorial for my college writing class about the effects of Public Programmed Television on the development of a child's brain in relation to ADHD. I do somewhat agree with the relative theory that fast moving objects and scenery while being sedentary (physically) could be very misleading for the brain and could potentially cause some kind of issue with reflexive reaction and synapse movement.

Great! Could you tell us more, please?

[Ronnock]

Well, it's not entirely relevant to the topic, but I will go ahead anyway. My paper was essentially over the ideas of how public television is programmed; its time intervals of entertainment vs. advertisement and the effects on the human brain.

So a TV program of about 30 minutes runs off of roughly 5 minutes of commercials, so you're getting 25 minutes (approximately) of actual entertainment/engagement. Then the time in between is made up of commercials which usually last from 30 seconds to 1:15. With these splices of concentration introduced at a very adolescent age, you will severely impair that particular adolescent's ability to receive and digest information. The child will think in time intervals related to TV programming.

A child's mind's development stages are through the ages of 1-3 (roughly depending upon the individual of course). If a child is shown any public television programming for prolong periods of time (which usually happens in this day, as an acting "baby-sitter"), it can corrupt the child's way of thinking. The symptoms are then usually shown around the ages of 5-7; roughly when a child starts to reveal problem-solving and critical thinking skills (on the proportioned level of a child of course).

It was an interesting project and I learned a lot from it and when I have my kids, they will NOT be watching ANY public TV whatsoever. If/when they do, it will be on a (whatever digital format for entertainment is around that day and age); so it will be commercial free and I will make sure that we discuss and analyze said material so that they can exercise their critical, independent, and creative thinking skills.

[bluedragon]

I would do the same with my children. And I will also teach them about how to use their mind effectively (memory tricks, problem solving, etc), and they will be able to see for themselves how watching movies affects their mind. Plus, I hope I'll be able to offer them enough real-life enjoyment so that they will not need any movies.

Update on my trial:

I have never once felt tired during those 8 days without movies.

Before, especially while watching movies, I would sometimes feel an overwhelming tiredness, even though I was lying in bed watching. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I never felt tired doing Tai Chi or even while walking around the city for 7 hours in a row. But while sitting down watching a movie, I couldn't find my place on the chair, it seemed exhausting. Now, while reading/going out, working out, whatever I'm doing, I never feel that tiredness. Even if I feel physically tired, I don't feel like fainting as before, I just feel like sitting down/taking a shower or something.

When I was watching movies, whenever I would get up and make myself a tea and wash some dishes, etc, I felt instantly recharged with energy. I used to think that washing dishes is the most energy-boosting activity of all. I thought the zone with the kitchen sink had extremely positive energy in my apartment, and I thought that was why I felt so energized when I went there. But now I know that it was just the fact that, when going to wash dishes, I would take a break from watching a movie, and in contrast with the movie's mind-numbing effect, dish-washing seemed very energizing. Plus - dish washing is like a meditation - you pay attention to what you do, and your mind and body are one

[Groucho]

Are movies really damaging our brain and affecting our mental abilities?

Well, I´m no scientist, but my anwser is an Absolute no.

Watching a good movie has so many positive effects (huge inspiration, stories and characters you can relate with, viewing life from a different perspective, learning about things in general, etc..). Actually, my mental shift and interest for personal development started years ago also as a result of seeing a few really emotional, inspiring stories I have witnessed in films/video games. Stories, that make you think...
So, even if by some strange experiment scientist prove that watching a movie is bad for human brain, there are so many positives, that outweight the negatives (but I highly doubt it, as it usually is with those scientific surveys, one week its healthy to eat a fish, the next one it isn´t, etc...)
In one word - bollocks.
Seeing a good movie is one of my favourite habits, but I rarely take time nowadays to see a good one. I even experimented watching a good film first thing in the morning and it somehow filled me with energy for a whole day. Watching TV program however is something I gave up a long time ago. Only reserved for sport events, an hour or two every few weeks.

Of course, as with anything else, the right measure must be taken. I rather watch 1 carefully chosen (usually recomended) movie a month then watching movies one after another...

Originally Posted by bluedragon

Before, especially while watching movies, I would sometimes feel an overwhelming tiredness, even though I was lying in bed watching.

One question: Did this happen while seeing some random flick out of boredom? Because if that is the case, I can totally relate.
Grab one of the masterpieces of Studio Ghibli or for instance take a look at IMDB ratings for some really good movies, and I assure you, you will be hooked to the last minute.

=)

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Groucho

there are so many positives, that outweight the negatives

I agree with that. After my 30 day trial ends, I'm certain I will watch good movies again. For me as well, the positives outweigh the negatives. But I think the negatives are about 50 times more dangerous than I think you think

One question - what if your life was rich enough that you could do everything that you see in movies? Would the positives still outweigh the negatives (if some weird scientist would prove that there are indeed negatives of course) ?

Originally Posted by Groucho

One question: Did this happen while seeing some random flick out of boredom? Because if that is the case, I can totally relate.
Grab one of the masterpieces of Studio Ghibli or for instance take a look at IMDB ratings for some really good movies, and I assure you, you will be hooked to the last minute.=)

No, as I said earlier, it happened with any movie, and I ONLY watch the best movies (in my opinion). It happened with movies that I loved so much I watched 3 times, and I still go back sometimes and browse through my favorite scenes, cause I love the characters so much they're like a part of me. Movies that have pushed me to make real breakthroughs in my personal development.

But as much as I loved watching, my body totally rejected the screen-watching experience, it couldn't endure it any longer. I needed to wash dishes, to do anything. And I wasn't watching for hours at a time - sometimes the tiredness would set in after just half an hour. If I were to dig for half an hour, or carry buckets of water uphill, I wouldn't feel so exhausted as movies made me feel. I never once felt tired since I stopped watching movies.

[jeff3]

I believe that we constantly are programming our minds with what we place our attention on so, sure TV could be damaging, or....it could be helpful, depends on the content.

Having said that, I think you may be asking if just the act of watching TV, in a physical sense, could be damaging and again my opinion is yes and no. Anything in excess potentially harmful. I remember growing up there was a little ritual that developed around the TV, my whole family became habituated to watching certain things at certain times, meals usually followed the news so when I would hear the background sounds they played on the station we watched for news I would get hungry.

Television is a great propaganda tool and whomever controls the content controls the hearts and minds of many people, question everything.

[Ronnock]

I have a question. Do you think that a good artistic alternative to movies and TV programs would be comic books? I mean, they don't move too quickly from scene to scene and you can sit back and take all of the art in at once. Or, does the action of looking at each box in its sequence still count as moving too quickly and messing with the body's idea of being pseudo-sedentary.

While writing this, I just kind of found a counter-argument to this discussion. If you believe that the idea of being sedentary conflicts with what's being represented on the screen and how your brain and body cope with those pseudo-3D images moving rapidly; wouldn't the same thing happened if you were reading? When reading (at least with me), my mind is constantly racing and configuring a "movie-like" picture in my head of what's going on. I do this in order to make the text make sense. I try to really put myself in the action as some kind of invisible or transparent 3rd party. So, by doing this, aren't I doing the same thing as actively watching a movie? Notice how I said actively, because when I watch a movie, I pay attention and actually try to solve what is going on and understand the conflict while trying to find a solution.

[bluedragon]

I think the alternative would be movies that only show static scenes where only the characters move around and act, but the camera stays put and doesn't zoom in and out all the time. You would them watch the characters just as you would if you were part of that scene. But of course, how would Hollywood ever agree to something like that?

What I like to do now, is to just "listen" to movies. If I want to re-watch something I have already seen, I know what the action is, so I can imagine it in my head. Listening to the movie gives me 99% of the enjoyment, but with none of the drawbacks. I still feel ready to interrupt myself at any time if some real-life opportunity comes by.

I don't think imagination has any basis of comparison with watching movies. Movies are images that are pumped into your mind, while imagination IS part of your mind. I'm no expert either, but I think imagination has been around forever. However, if you are too immersed in "day-dreaming", then too, you will feel less responsive if someone were to grab you by your shirt and propose some daring adventure and you have to say "yes" or "no" immediately. At least, I would be.

[Ronnock]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I once heard that dreaming from a neurological standpoint in how the brain behaves was very closely related to watching a movie. This is because while one is subconscious or forced, the other is active and or passive (depending on how engaged you are with the film).

What about video games? Typically the gameplay doesn't pan in and out, the characters are moving in a sem-static camera view and it's interactive; thus you are not being passive about anything, because when you do...you die...or for a less visceral term, you lose. Could this be another alternative?

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by bluedragon

One question - what if your life was rich enough that you could do everything that you see in movies? Would the positives still outweigh the negatives (if some weird scientist would prove that there are indeed negatives of course) ?

Interesting question... If it would be possible to do everything just like in the movies, of course it would be more adventurous to experience that in all 5 senses for real, instead of watching colorfull pixels , but on the other hand, you can only view your life through your own eyes,... of course, you interpret movies in your unique way too, but still, movies have a great capabillity of changing your point of view on certain things, that is what I really like about them.

As you explained things, I think you made a right decision with this 30 day trial experiment. Forget about displays of any kind, story is what it is all about really. Just like with good comics or playing a good game (good idea @Ronnock), reading a good book is a great thing. No action or camera moving there, just your own imagination, making up new worlds while reading (books are even better then movies in my opinion, because they really exercise your imagination, they just take longer to finish then a 2h movie).

I personally love this saying:
You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read. - Charles Jones

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Ronnock

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I once heard that dreaming from a neurological standpoint in how the brain behaves was very closely related to watching a movie. This is because while one is subconscious or forced, the other is active and or passive (depending on how engaged you are with the film).

I don't know, but I certainly don't feel disconnected from the world when I wake up. True, if someone calls me on my cell phone and wakes me up, I may not answer because I would be unable to think straight away, but after getting up and moving around a little, I would be ready for real life action. But that's just how I feel it.

Originally Posted by Ronnock

What about video games? Typically the gameplay doesn't pan in and out, the characters are moving in a sem-static camera view and it's interactive; thus you are not being passive about anything, because when you do...you die...or for a less visceral term, you lose. Could this be another alternative?

I think so. I definitely feel more in control when I play a game. It's a first-person perspective, but at least, it's a constant perspective, and you are the one who makes the decisions. Maybe you don't move your entire body, but if you want the character to move, you do have to initiate the movement through some brain impulse and a slight movement of the mouse or pressing a key.

[Eman]

In case there's any more interest to this topic...

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

If you are a fan of Dr. Hawkins, he teaches that anything negative (such as people dying in a movie) will cause your body to react negatively, so you should avoid negative movies to keep healthy.

Also, there is research that says children under age 5 cannot tell the difference between a movie and real life. So, what they see in a movie, they think is real. This can seriously f- up a child's brain.

Research shows that the subconscious mind of adults does not differentiate between the reality and movies. Another piece of research shows that most decisions are made on the subconscious level, with the conscious mind just registering decisions and getting "credit" for them. In this light, by watching, a person opens the mind to a flood of data (including specifically designed ads) that will affect future decisions. Will these decisions be rational?

So my conclusion is that movies DO affect our mental abilities, since we expose our subconscious and it is the subconscious that stands at the root of our decisions.

PS
Here is a study conducted at the State University Medical Center that suggests that movies that generate significant emotional response "could harm your problem-solving ability."