We are inundated with information everyday via television shows, commercials, radio songs, internet websites, magazines, and newspapers that are constantly feeding us images.  How does this impact our relationships with people?  These images may not only represent a false reality, but also steer our thoughts in directions that aren’t always healthy.

Most people don’t really think much about what they hear or see.  The information gets filed somewhere deep into the brain, seemingly never to be thought of again, or maybe it just goes in one ear and out the other.  However, repeated stimuli can leave lasting effects.  Think with me for a minute here: a woman goes to the grocery store, and while waiting in line to check out, she glances at the magazines.  The cover boasts a thin, beautiful woman flashing a bright white smile, and one of the taglines says “lose 7 pounds in 7 days!”  Initially, she may not internalize that.  The following week, she again goes to the store and sees a different magazine with another beautiful woman with a line that reads “5 foods that help you lose weight.”  She may now start to wonder if there is something to this weight thing.  Is this how I should look?  Do I need to lose weight?  Is that why my husband doesn’t pay more attention to me?  Does he want me thinner?

This doesn’t just happen with magazines; it happens with all forms of media.  And it’s not just about losing weight, it’s about all aspects of our lives.  TV shows that constantly use insults and jabs as humor, music videos that glorify money and materialism, songs that boast about drugs and crime, and newspapers that sensationalize murderers and sex offenders change the way the brain responds to situations.  We become information addicts that are desensitized to negativity, and thrive on what’s next, who did what to who, and “did you hear about…?”

I’m not saying that freedom of speech should be hindered, but I believe that the media should be conscientious of the psychological effects of their words and images. Take into consideration the self-esteem of a woman in an abusive relationship: her boyfriend tells her over and over again that she’s fat or ugly or worthless, and she’ll never be anything without him.  Eventually, she begins to believe it, and somewhere down the road, she ends up losing her self-esteem.  Poor self-esteem may lead to poor performance at work or school, manipulation by peers, becoming withdrawn, anxiety or depression, and use of drugs or alcohol as distraction from painful feelings.  Being in this state of mind then makes her more susceptible to the unhealthy messages sent by the media–and the cycle begins.