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Research into media use as a stress reliever (full text) has found that in some cases watching TV or playing video games as a means to relax or recover, had high levels of guilt and feelings of failure afterwards. This in turn meant that the user had a lower level of recovery because of the guilt, and this was seen more in individuals who were particularly fatigued (so those who would benefit from media use as a stress reliever got less benefit from doing so).
In combination with previous work on media-induced recovery, this study suggests that entertaining media use after phases of exertion may result in two different appraisal processes: Individuals may perceive entertaining media use either as a legitimate activity, a deserved reward after a hard working day resulting in recovery, or as a failure of self-control and a lack of resistance toward their desire for media use resulting in feelings of guilt. The processes that guide media users onto those two routes of appraisal, however, remain unknown. In summary, these open questions demonstrate that the search for further variables that explain when and why (ego-depleted) media users feel guilty about their media use is an important task for future research.
Overall, the present study on "the guilty couch potato" furthers our understanding of the complexity of the interplay of appraisal processes, entertaining media use, and well-being. It reveals preconditions and mechanisms central to the positive psychological potential of media entertainment. Further explicating these mechanisms and addressing the open questions outlined above appears to be a promising endeavor for future research.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by shortscreen on Thursday July 31 2014, @06:16AM
Porn is just as good a way to waste time as video games or TV. In fact, TV advertisements are probably more insulting to one's intelligence.
And with video games, there is the risk of losing horribly and rage quitting. Like I just want to lay here and play HOMM3 all day but the computer's heroes are going to be dicks and cast blind every turn of every battle so fuck it, now I might have to get up and do something.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 31 2014, @09:40AM
To clarify, I was not trolling. Just a simple statement of how I relax.
(Score: 1) by pkrasimirov on Thursday July 31 2014, @11:08AM
I also agree, not troll.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by nitehawk214 on Thursday July 31 2014, @01:58PM
Why is parent marked troll?
Simple, the religious right wants people to feel guilty after masturbating, instead of feeling relieved. I pity those people.
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