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Dr. Lowenstein

Fantasy or Reality: Do Teens Always Know the Difference?

 

In a recent interview about the Slenderman controversy, I talked about how the media can impact teens. In case you’re not familiar with this scenario, Slenderman is a fictitious character that was created in 2009 as part of an online contest seeking paranormal images. The original creator of Slenderman submitted a black-and-white picture that showed children with a nondescript, dark figure lurking in the background.

Since that time, the Internet has been flooded with hundreds of stories, videos and video games based on the Slenderman character. Just last month two Milwaukee teens were accused of stabbing their fellow classmate 19 times, reportedly in order to win favor with Slenderman. The accused girls were only 12 years old. For many of us, it begs the question: Can teens separate fantasy from reality?

From a clinical perspective, children begin learning at a very young age how to distinguish between what is real and what is make-believe. As they grow and develop, their understanding of fantasy and reality expands, allowing them to properly categorize the two. Although it’s likely that the Milwaukee teens possessed the cognitive ability to separate reality from fantasy, online exposure to this character may have impacted their behavior.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the factors that may lead to a teen’s inability to separate fantasy and real life.

  • Desensitization: Research shows time and time again that repeated exposure to violence can lead to increased aggressive behavior. Whether through movies, television, video games or the Internet, teens who constantly view violence may become numb to the images, and in turn, they may not be able to think about death and killing in the context of real life.
  • Mental health risk factors: Teens who struggle with things like anxiety, depression or mental health issues are particularly vulnerable. Some teens find comfort in online fantasy worlds as an escape from normal life, yet they become so engrossed that they have trouble separating the two.
  • The developing brain: Developmentally speaking, teenagers process information differently than adults. Many teenagers process messages in a part of the brain known as the amygdala, which is responsible for emotional processing. When teens are entranced with fantasy on the Internet, their emotions take over, often causing them to think and act irrationally
  • Unrestricted Internet usage: Many parents believe that monitoring their child’s Internet and cell phone usage is an invasion of his or her privacy. But nothing could be further from the truth. The Internet is full of material that is inappropriate for children and teenagers, an age group that may be easily persuaded and influenced.

Parents have a challenging job when it comes to monitoring their child’s Internet exposure. These tips may help:

  • Familiarize yourself with the technology your child uses, regardless of how difficult or confusing it may be.
  • Set strict limits and guidelines when it comes to Internet usage. You may want to install privacy settings on the computer and restrict the amount of time your child is allowed to be online.
  • Talk to your kids. Be a part of their world; learn about their interests and their friends; and work hard to establish a relationship built on trust.

David Lowenstein, Ph.D. is a Psychologist and the Clinical Director of Lowenstein & Associates, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to providing therapeutic services to individuals and families, he offers training and consultation to numerous associations, schools and agencies around the country. Additionally, he is a frequent radio and TV guest and a resource and contributing writer for numerous newspapers and magazines nationwide.

Contact Dr. David Lowenstein at 691 South Fifth Street
Columbus, OH 43206 or by phone at 614.443.6155 or 614.444.0432.