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'Gentler' soaps not so harmless

Indirect aggression is alive and well on the most popular programmes watched by young people in the UK – and can lead to “anxiety, loneliness, depression, bulimia and even suicide”, according to Dr Sarah Coyne, psychology lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire.

Speaking at the Churches’ Media Conference earlier this month, she pointed out that her research on the issue of indirect aggression – “covert, manipulative, behind the back aggression” had shown that girls are more likely to use this kind of violence and that its effects can be devastating.

What is indirect aggression? Dr Coyne described it as “very different to physical violence – gossiping, spreading rumours, excluding others from the group, destroying friendships, anonymous notes” and pointed out that often those who practise indirect aggression in soaps and other programmes are the attractive, popular female characters.

Her research also showed that the most aggressive soaps, from the indirect point of view, were Emmerdale and Coronation Street – and that viewing this kind of aggression led to “short-term aggressive behaviour”. And there is a lot of indirect aggression on TV – “almost double that of physical violence” she said. The effects of physical violence are well-researched but indirect aggression is a new area of research.

Dr Coyne challenged parents, programme-makers and other researchers to take the issue seriously. “Parents should watch the programmes with their children or else limit how much they watch. The sheer frequency of it is over the top and children want to imitate it."

CARE conference promotes internet purity

Web porn is rife in British churches, says the Christian social concern charity CARE, which has organised a conference to help address the problem.

Hundreds are expected to attend the one-day event In Search Of Intimacy at London’s Westminster Chapel on 8 October. It will advise church leaders on how to help people whose lives have been affected by internet porn, covering the themes of a specially written book to be published around the same time.

“It will give a broad sweep of the current situation as well as practical help,” said CARE’s General Director Nola Leach. “It will include what to do if people feel they are caught in this spiral and advice on how to protect children from internet porn.”

One of the speakers, Rob Parsons of CARE for the Family, will explain how the use of pornography is often a search for intimacy, which is ultimately to be found in Christ. Other contributors will include medical expert Dr Trevor Stammers, Dr Stephen Carrick-Davies of Childnet International, addictions specialist David Partington and child abuse consultant Dr Alice Swann.

When CARE surveyed 3,500 church leaders in 2001, they found many had already been consulted by people addicted to cybersex. Most of those pastors and ministers said internet porn was a significant problem for some men.

In response, CARE launched the website www.care.org.uk/anon which offers help to those struggling with this issue. “Many leaders felt they lacked the resources to help others,” said Nola Leach. “We want to give them some practical tools without being judgemental in any way.”

Unmarried households with children double in 10 years

The number of unmarried couples who live together and have children has almost doubled in the decade leading up to 2001, according to a report highlighted in The Telegraph this week.

More people are now living as unmarried couples with children than without. Married couples with children are still the most common households. However they are also the household type to have fallen most in popularity in the 1990s. In 1991, 20.2 million people lived in such households, 35.9 per cent of the population. By 2001 the figure had fallen to 17.5 million (29.8 per cent).

The report found that in 2001 2.9 million people (5 per cent) lived in unmarried couple households with children compared with 1.5 million in 1991 (2.6 per cent). The number of such households increased across Britain. People were least likely to be living in such households in Northern Ireland. The highest proportion of such households was in the north of England, and generally in poorer, more traditional areas of cities.(www.2-in-2-1.co.uk)

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		NEWS 'Gentler' soaps not so harmless Indirect aggression is alive and well on the most popular programmes watched by young people in the UK – and can lead to “anxiety, loneliness, depression, bulimia and even suicide”, according to Dr Sarah Coyne, psychology lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire. Speaking at the Churches’ Media Conference earlier this month, she pointed out that her research on the issue of indirect aggression – “covert, manipulative, behind the back aggression” had shown that girls are more likely to use this kind of violence and that its effects can be devastating. What is indirect aggression? Dr Coyne described it as “very different to physical violence – gossiping, spreading rumours, excluding others from the group, destroying friendships, anonymous notes” and pointed out that often those who practise indirect aggression in soaps and other programmes are the attractive, popular female characters. Her research also showed that the most aggressive soaps, from the indirect point of view, were Emmerdale and Coronation Street – and that viewing this kind of aggression led to “short-term aggressive behaviour”. And there is a lot of indirect aggression on TV – “almost double that of physical violence” she said. The effects of physical violence are well-researched but indirect aggression is a new area of research. Dr Coyne challenged parents, programme-makers and other researchers to take the issue seriously. “Parents should watch the programmes with their children or else limit how much they watch. The sheer frequency of it is over the top and children want to imitate it." CARE conference promotes internet purity Web porn is rife in British churches, says the Christian social concern charity CARE, which has organised a conference to help address the problem. Hundreds are expected to attend the one-day event In Search Of Intimacy at London’s Westminster Chapel on 8 October. It will advise church leaders on how to help people whose lives have been affected by internet porn, covering the themes of a specially written book to be published around the same time. “It will give a broad sweep of the current situation as well as practical help,” said CARE’s General Director Nola Leach. “It will include what to do if people feel they are caught in this spiral and advice on how to protect children from internet porn.” One of the speakers, Rob Parsons of CARE for the Family, will explain how the use of pornography is often a search for intimacy, which is ultimately to be found in Christ. Other contributors will include medical expert Dr Trevor Stammers, Dr Stephen Carrick-Davies of Childnet International, addictions specialist David Partington and child abuse consultant Dr Alice Swann. When CARE surveyed 3,500 church leaders in 2001, they found many had already been consulted by people addicted to cybersex. Most of those pastors and ministers said internet porn was a significant problem for some men. In response, CARE launched the website www.care.org.uk/anon which offers help to those struggling with this issue. “Many leaders felt they lacked the resources to help others,” said Nola Leach. “We want to give them some practical tools without being judgemental in any way.” Unmarried households with children double in 10 years The number of unmarried couples who live together and have children has almost doubled in the decade leading up to 2001, according to a report highlighted in The Telegraph this week. More people are now living as unmarried couples with children than without. Married couples with children are still the most common households. However they are also the household type to have fallen most in popularity in the 1990s. In 1991, 20.2 million people lived in such households, 35.9 per cent of the population. By 2001 the figure had fallen to 17.5 million (29.8 per cent). The report found that in 2001 2.9 million people (5 per cent) lived in unmarried couple households with children compared with 1.5 million in 1991 (2.6 per cent). The number of such households increased across Britain. People were least likely to be living in such households in Northern Ireland. The highest proportion of such households was in the north of England, and generally in poorer, more traditional areas of cities.(www.2-in-2-1.co.uk) © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.