J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry.  2013 Jun;24(2):65-70.

How Does the Movie Affect Child Actors (Actresses) on Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory?

• Kim B
• Park J
• Hwang JW
• Yoo HJ
• Kwack YS
• Bahn GH

Abstract

Many child actors have appeared in various movies as the Korean film industry continues to evolve. As more children appear in violent and raunchy scenes, there are more concerns about the movie's effect on child actors. In some Western countries, many strategies have been developed for child actors, but for the Korean movie industry, the conditions are still poor for them. Although children who enter the concrete operational period are able to think logically and systematically, they are yet limited by their experiences. Adolescents in the formal operational period try to deal with all of the possibilities and assumptions logically and systematically with freedom from realistic contents and experiences. This period is very important because adolescents become more sensitive to others' feelings and they should develop their ego identity. Several studies have reported the indirect experiences through media including how the movie affected children and adolescents negatively. Depending on the individual's morality, judgment and emotional status, these effects were variable and inconsistent and could be relieved by several interventions. We could anticipate much bigger emotional effect on child actors who are acting directly and then are confronting themselves in the scene. Therefore, we suggest that the emotional effects of the movies on child actors can be managed properly by considering children's cognitive ability and emotional status, and establishing protective strategies before they are exposed to problematic scenes. Of course, it should be followed by evaluating them after the exposure and with follow-up management, if necessary.

Keyword

Movie; Children Actor; Adolescent Actor; Development

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Child
Ego
Freedom
Humans
Judgment
Logic
Morals