Sudden changes is volume, cuts, zooms, scene changes, or sudden movements on TV cause you to look at TV. Repeated changes have effect of "holding" your attention. Commercials, action movies, and music videos are notorious for containing large numbers of these sudden changes that "grab" and "hold" your attention.

Test it for yourself

Watch your own responses next time you watch TV. For a fun experiment, turn on a TV in a room full of people to watch how orienting response works. It is pretty amazing to watch, if you can keep from getting sucked in. The next time TV is playing see how many cuts, zooms, loud noises, and scene changes you can count.

What are major symptoms of TV addiction?

*You want to watch less, but find it difficult to turn off TV. *You tried in past to limit your TV watching--but failed. *You feel anxious when TV is not on. *You think about TV when you are not watching it. *TV replaces other meaningful activities, like spending time with family and friends.

Television has become so common in our society that it may be difficult to recognize a TV addiction. When everyone at office is discussing latest episode of "Desperate Wives", it may be difficult to see that an unhealthy addiction is at work.

The Media *Addicted* Generation

The latest study by Kaiser foundation indicates that next generation is already addicted to TV. The study found that kids, age 8-18, still watch about 4 hours of TV per day. On top of TV, they spend a couple hours playing with video games and computers. The grand total for kids was 6 hours 20 minutes per day. The study avoids "A" word, but how else would you describe a generation who watches so much TV, videos, and games that they are labeled "M" (Media) Generation?

Sources: Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor by Robert Kubey and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Scientific American 2004 Generation M: Media in Lives of 8-18 Year-olds Kaiser Family Foundation Report

Take note of how your children behave after they have spent afternoon in front of TV set. How do they behave after playing with their friends? How well do you behave after watching several hours of TV? Your spouse? You may need to get an outside opinion for accuracy.

Consumers 'R Us

How do your children behave at store when confronted with cool blue gizmo that has been advertised for months on TV commercials? Are they whining and begging and nagging incessantly for that gizmo? How much extra money do you spend chasing latest fads and fashions, as shown on TV?

Feelin' Groovy

Observe how much you really remember of that educational program you just saw. How well do you remember last book you read in comparison? Test yourself. Stop and consider how you feel after watching several hours of television. Do you feel alert, happy, and energetic? Or do you feel lethargic and depressed and ready to turn TV back on? Keep a diary to get an accurate assessment.

Family Time?

Most importantly, monitor number of hours you and your family spend in front of TV per week. Is it 20?...30?...40? The average American spends 28 hours per week in front of a TV set. How much do you watch? Now ask yourself: Is this how you really want to spend your time? Is this how you want your kids to spend their time? By age eighteen average American will have spent three full years in front of TV? By age seventy total is 11.67 years.

Stop and think if this is what you really want out of life. I did, and I got rid of my TV.