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11. FRIGHT REACTIONS TO MASS MEDIA 303

strate that media-induced fears often interfere with children’s sleep, and
retrospective reports suggest that the negative effects of scary media can
endure for years, even into adulthood.
Research on the relationship between cognitive development and emo-
tional responses to television has been very helpful in predicting the types
of television programs and movies that are more or less likely to frighten
children of different ages and in devising effective intervention and cop-
ing strategies for different age groups. In addition to providing empirical
tests of the relationship between cognitive development and affective
responses, these developmental findings can help parents and other care-
givers make more sensible viewing choices for children (Cantor, 1998).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Much of the research reported in this chapter was supported by Grant
RO1 MH 35320 from the National Institute of Mental Health and by
grants from the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin.

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