Characteristics of Depiction of Pro-social Behaviour in Japanese Television Programmes

Abstract

This study investigated the depiction of pro-social behaviour in Japanese fictional television programmes during one week of television programming in January 2003 and January 2004. Actors depicting pro-social behaviour in many cases were Japanese adults with no outstanding attractive features. Pro-social behaviours demonstrated were most often assistance activities in daily living triggered by goodwill or affection towards the targets of the pro-social behaviour. Rewards for demonstrating pro-social behaviour were not often depicted and there were an extremely small numbers of pro-social television programmes. In conclusion, there are very few factors to promote learning of pro-social behaviour on television.