Citation

Sprafkin JN, Liebert RM, Poulos RW. J. Exp. Child Psychol. 1975; 20(1): 119-126.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0022-0965(75)90031-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The possibility that regularly broadcast entertainment television programs can facilitate prosocial behavior in children was investigated. Thirty first-grade children, 15 boys and 15 girls, were individually exposed to one of three half-hour television programs: a program from the Lassie series which included a dramatic example of a boy helping a dog, a program from the Lassie series devoid of such an example, or a program from the family situation comedy series, the Brady Bunch. The effects of the programming were assessed by presenting each child with a situation that required him to choose between continuing to play a game for self-gain and helping puppies in distress. Children exposed to the Lassie program with the helping scene helped for significantly more time than those exposed to either of the other programs.