Romantic Comedies Are Making Kids Miserable

From Utne Reader :

Hollywood’s romantic comedies aren’t just innocuous cinematic tripe. They’re actually  warping children’s minds (pdf), according to new research from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The films, including  Notting Hill and  You’ve Got Mail are skewed portrayals of relationships with “both highly idealistic and undesirable qualities,” the researchers write, where romantic problems or transgressions “have no real negative long-term impact on relationship functioning.” The films tend to focus on the early stages of relationships, but the characters displayed emotions that generally develop over time, including deep feelings of love and emotional support. Adolescents sometimes use these films as models for their own relationships, which could lead to unrealistic expectations and disappointment.

(Via: MarriageDebate.com )