Page 18 - Pure Life 11

Modern Media and Changing the Functions of Family /17

Religiosity gives essence to life and provides spiritual
support for people, it increases social solidarity and
provides control over their behavior.
1
Whether the role played by media is positive or negative
depends on the nature and content of the programs. In fact,
both the sender and the receiver of the message are
specifically important. In healthy, united, and harmonious
families TV increases unity. However, in unstable and
insecure families, TV and media can worsen the situation.
By providing trust in the family environment, media
can pave the ground for acceptance of social values from
the family in the children.
What is witnessed nowadays is a clear indicator of the
fact that in families where close, friendly relationship
between parents and children exist, parents can control
children behavior, and they can transfer social and
religious values to their children.
On the contrary, in families where role models and
behavioral patterns have been adopted from outside, the role
models acted in contrast to the desires and wants of parents.

2. Media: Family and Social Solidarity
Family is a dynamic group. Groups are not just a cluster
of individuals but indeed groups display the nature and
form of relationship between the members. Groups can be
considered as some individuals who communicate with
each other and have shared activities and follow a
collective, common goal.
In categorizing groups, families can be thought of as
small groups who abide by the rules of bigger groups but
with very slight differences.

1. Stark, 1996, p. 8.