Newswise — People should be cautious about how much 9/11 anniversary coverage they watch because reliving such moments may be more emotionally upsetting than viewers think it will be, says a Purdue University mass media effects expert.
"Of course there is the temptation to watch these images again," says Glenn Sparks, a professor of communication who studies how frightening images on television affect people's health. "Some of these images - people jumping from buildings or the towers collapsing - are so deeply ingrained in our minds that many people might not anticipate their capacity to elicit intense emotions all over again. When you begin to feel a sense of emotional fatigue from seeing these familiar images, take that as a signal that there isn't much to be gained by watching these events yet again."
This is the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in which two planes hit the World Trade Center towers, one hit the Pentagon and one crashed in a Pennsylvania field. Many television networks are promoting anniversary coverage, and CNN is replaying the 2001 coverage in real time during the entire day on its Web site. In addition to television images, there also is audio from the recently released 9-1-1 tapes of emergency dispatchers assisting victims and rescuers. Sparks advises that people heed any warnings about graphic content.
"Reliving this event can resurrect the initial trauma that we all experienced when we watched the first news reports," he says. "The emotional reactions that the coverage triggers in people can be very intense and ultimately may not help people deal with understanding the significance of the event. It might be healthier to have a low-key reflection of people talking about the events and paying tribute to those who acted heroically."
Sparks is especially concerned that children who might just catch a glimpse of the coverage could think there is another attack. Children may ask questions, express concern or show their anxiety in obvious ways. However, some children, especially older children, may not be so direct. Sparks says it is important for parents to be sensitive to the possibility that their child could become upset from seeing the news footage and should be prepared to talk about those feelings.
One helpful strategy is to focus on heroes of the events and how effectively emergency workers responded, Sparks says.
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Purdue College of Liberal Arts: http://www.cla.purdue.edu/
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