I get it. "In Treatment" has complicated, intense dialogue, is brilliantly written and beautifully acted by star Gabriel Byrne and a host of actors you will recognize, like John Mahoney, Hope Davis, Blair Underwood, and Melissa George. It centers on a psychotherapist, played by Byrne, and the sessions with his patients in his home-office. It also includes the disintegration of his own family and his reunion with the therapist he sees, played by Dianne Wiest. As you might expect and true to real therapy sessions for many people, the issues are often heavy, not easily unraveled, and sometimes completely unresolved.
I watched the first season but just don't have time (or the premium cable package) to keep up anymore. But my parents, who were instantly hooked after episode 1, have continued watching this second season fervently.
They are so into it, in fact, that my mom actually squealed with delight last night when she told me they were planning on getting in a few DVRed episodes after dinner.
"Wow," I said teasingly. "It's almost like this show is actually YOUR therapy."
She smiled at my snarkiness and then got a serious look on her face.
"Yeah, I guess it is."
What?! Even if she was only half-serious...really?
Then my dad -- a retired social worker who made a long and successful career out of counseling kids and parents -- nodded his head in agreement. After that, they both laughed. A little.
I know my parents get a little too into "American Idol", "Project Runway", "Jeopardy", and even" Access Hollywood" (I know this because they will recount episodes in crazy detail over an otherwise normal dinner), but could they really, truly be using this TELEVISION SHOW for their own emotional processing, discussion, and analysis?
And if they are, is that uncommon? Or even all that bad?
Four new studies reported in an upcoming issue of Journal of Experimental Social Psychology show that watching television does make viewers feel less lonely. Each study looked at different ways people react to watching their favorite shows, and among their findings, revealed that people felt a sense of belonging when those shows are on and helped guard them against negative thoughts, feelings of rejection, and drops in self-esteem.
A study of 45,000 people and an analysis of 34 years' worth of data reported last year that television does provide short-term boosts but can lead to overall unhappiness. The "not happy" people surveyed watched 30% more television than the people categorized as "happy." Researchers noted that the "happy" people were participating in activities that were more likely to produce long-term benefits while the "not happy" people used their time to watch much more TV. This led researchers to conclude "TV does cause people to be less happy."
That also seems to hold true for couples (trying not to think of my parents as I type this part...). Couples tagged as "unhappily married" spent more time watching TV than "happily married couples", who reported having 30% more sex, attending more religious services, and reading newspapers more often.
Even before (and continuously since) these studies, there has been concern that virtual worlds from Second Life to MySpace to Facebook to Twitter will replace "real" relationships, or at least meeting friends, colleagues, and (maybe? possibly?) even care providers like therapists.
Is there a direct line connecting all of these studies with my concern that my parents -- and maybe people you know or even you -- are using television as therapy? No.
But I am wondering if people who are "unhappy" are also the people who would maybe be well-served by the professional insights of a good therapist, and are instead inclined to turn on the tube to get that short-term boost than make an appointment (or twelve) that might bring longer-term benefits.
Are there a lot of people out there who are turning on shows like "In Treatment" to cope with issues or unhappiness rather than turning to a real, live care-giver?
I am not implying in any way that my parents are unhappy individually or as a couple. I just wonder if shows like this make it just a tad too easy to focus on fictional issues and resolution and ignore your own stuff?
I am also not going to make sweeping generalizations about who should and should not be in therapy. That's a personal decision best left between an individual and their doctor.
But I can't help but wonder if perhaps it is time for more television devotees to get out of their recliner and go sit on a therapist's couch for the time it takes to watch one show a week.
Do you agree?
Are you "In Treatment" yourself by watching television?
