Religiousness and the Reception of Television Programmes by Adolescents

Abstract

On the basis of empirical data the author verifies the following hypotheses:
1. Religiousness does not basically affect the frequency of TV watching, but it affects preferences and the acceptance of ideas transmitted through the medium of television.
2. The deeper and the more open is religiousness, the more selective the choice of heroes and ideas and their acceptance.
3. Religiousness affects significantly the attitude towards political and social ideas communicated through television, and makes viewers more rigorous as regards models of moral behaviour frequently proposed by television.

The author finds that the hypotheses have been confirmed. Religiousness does not affect the frequency of TV watching. However, it differentiates viewers’ preferences as regards their attitude towards erotic scenes. Religiousness also differentiates attitudes towards political and social ideas and towards television heroes.

The present analysis is the beginning of a larger investigation.