INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the study
Many people throughout the world are believed in stories about ghostly encounters. An example is The Amityville Horror(1975) which was based from the writers George and Kathy Lutz. These stories are used by movie producers to create movies about ghosts and exaggerate them to be a great hit in the entertainment industry and because of these, people are believed that ghosts act the same way as the ghosts in movies. This fact makes their fear of ghosts greater. Horror films or movies is a film genre made to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's primal fears.
Jeffrey Goldstein wrote an article called "The Attractions of Violent Entertainment". Some viewers seek the excitement of events that are not happening on a daily basis which explains the attraction of people in horrific scenes. Scenes on which gives people the chills on the spine. Goldstein also quoted "People go to horror films because they want to be frightened or they wouldn't do it twice," (http://pftdcast.com/resources/Goldstein-The%20attractions%20of%20violent%20entertainment.pdf).
He explained the success of these movies that is why more and more people are drawn in watching these and with the exaggeration of the movies people are getting more filled by bad ideas about ghosts and horrors which definitely out of the line.
Parents and adults introduce their children in believing ghosts at a very young age. Many parents in this generation use ghostly beliefs as one of their disciplinary actions for children. Making the children believe that they exist can only adding fear to the young minds. A popular thing that parents do is that they introduce ghosts to children to make them obey what they want.
Stephen Wagner wrote an article called "Should you be afraid of ghosts?". Ghosts are not evil. We are just living in an era of ghost fearing people and it is mainly because of movies, books and stories and because of this children are afraid of them. Wagner also added "If you were walking unarmed in a dense tropical jungle that you know is inhabited by tigers and large snakes, you'd undoubtedly be petrified." Children would have the same feeling as that because they don't even know what they are and what they can do.
Ghosts are believed because they are also introduced in games. Games nowadays has a millions of selectiction to choose from and some of these are the horror games. About 60% of the game fans are mostly children that is why they are exposed to these horrific games. Children are drawn to these games because of the excitement it brings and because of the carelessness of parents children take hold of these games at a very young age eventhough they are not suitable for very young players.
Andrew Groen wrote an article called "What Makes Horror Games Scary?". The emotional stimuli which is found in the brain, affects how we feel in a game. Upon experiencing it, it makes us feel fear and horrified eventhough the scene did not happen in real life because the brain can often only barely tell the difference between media and reality. Groen also mentioned "The key to the horror experience is that our brains -- amazing though they may be – can often only barely tell the difference between media and reality."(http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-10-29-what-makes-horror-games-scary-article).
The children's imaginations are so wild that it can never really tell what is real and what is fake and to top it all up, games nowadays are created with great graphics that makes it so convincing for the bright minds of children.
A lot of children believe that ghosts exists. Many children believes the existence of ghosts because they are everywhere. Games, movies, books, and even media has them. Another cause of these problem is because children are exposed to them by parents and sometimes ghosts are used for bullying and tormenting little kids. Having these things can easily make a child experience phasmophobia which is really hard to handle when it comes to kids.
Carrie Shrier wrote an article called "Spooky stuff: Talking with children about ghosts, monsters and other childhood fears". Parent’s support and understanding can help make the things that go bump in the night much less scary for children. Talking to children is the greatest way to help them cope with their fear and having parents to reassure their safety can make them feel more comfortable. She also stated "children under the age of seven had difficulty understanding the difference between fantasy and reality. This makes those ghost decorations, or the potential for the monster under the bed, seem much more scary, even if parents assure the child it is not real."(http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/spooky_stuff_talking_with_children_about_ghosts_monsters_and_other_childhoo). As parents we need to reassure the kids that we will keep them safe from the ghosts they believe and not to discipline them by using these ghosts to scare them.
Ghosts are believed because they are introduced in games, movies, stories, and news and because of that many and many people believe in their existence. Eventhough this matter is popular and believed, the researcher believes that ghost beliefs are bad for people and especially children.
Understanding the effects of children's exposure to horrors and ghosts would help us know the do's and don'ts in introducing ghosts to children and encouraging people to stop introducing ghosts as a cause of fear to help their children grow without fear of supernatural things.
The purpose of this paper is to make people more knowledgeable about the bad effects of ghost beliefs to people and children.
B. Statement of the problem
This study aims to answer this question:
1. Why is ghost beliefs bad for people especially children ?
C. Significance of the study
Parents and adults. This research paper would be able to help parents and adults understand the effects of ghostly beliefs to the young minds of children. Moreover, the researchers is encouraging people to lessen the children's exposure to ghost themed movies, games, and stories.
Film Makers. Knowledge of this study would help film makers understand the effects of exaggerated movies to how people think about ghosts and horrors and encouraging them to lessen the exaggeration of films that is too unreal.
Future Researchers. This study is important for future researchers to make similar studies helping them go deeper in this kind of matter because only few people are interested to discuss this matter so the information is only limited. They may use this study as their reference for research and and learn about the effects of ghosts to people.
D. Scope and Delimitation
This study focuses on the effects of ghostly beliefs to people(adults and children). Ghosts has been popular to many people because of the scare they bring and because of that thought adults use them to scare children which is really bad for the young minds.
Due to limited time constraints, this study will only discuss the effects of ghosts to the people. Scientific explanations will no longer be discussed in this study.This is will also give an emphasis to the encouragement to people to stop using ghosts in pranks and for exposing these matters to children at a very young age.
E. Materials and Methods
The information about this research was gathered from various reference materials such as blogs from on-line sources.
The data gathered will be presented in a cause and effect manner because the study is mainly about the effects of ghosts to people which has to be explained in cause and effect. This will be observed in the view of the psychology.
F. Definition of Terms
1. Belief- an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.
(https://www.google.com.ph/#q=belief+definition)
2. Encounter- unexpectedly experience or be faced with (something difficult or hostile).
(https://www.google.com.ph/#q=encounter+definition)
3. Exaggeration- a statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is.
(https://www.google.com.ph/#q=exaggeration+definition)
4. Exposure- the state of being exposed to contact with something.
(https://www.google.com.ph/#q=exposure+definition)
5. Hallucinations- an experience involving the apparent perception of something not present.
(https://www.google.com.ph/#q=hallucination+definition)
6. Psychology- the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, esp. those affecting behavior in a given context.
(https://www.google.com.ph/#=psychology+definition)
Chapter 2
DISCUSSION
Why is ghost beliefs bad for people especially children ?
Definition and Effects of Ghostly Beliefs
Ghostly beliefs are known by all ages, ghostly beliefs are speculations about supernatural entities like ghosts, demons, and many more. A recent study has been conducted in the UK and reported a steadily increasing trend in paranormal belief from 40 %(2005) to 60 %(2009) which explains the fast growing trend regarding the matters of ghost beliefs.(http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/254654/belief-in-ghosts-is-on-the-increase)
Believing in Ghosts is bad because it can affect our lives and how we think. Believing in them can only bring fear to individuals. If adults can be frightened by them then what about the children which doesn't really have knowledge or can't even tell the difference between fantasies and reality which is really a serious matter. We do not need to introduce this matters to them because it can only worsen their fear and lead to "Phasmophobia" or also known as the fear of ghosts. Here are some of the known ghosts beliefs from throughout the world together with their effects.
"Balete Drive" one of the most popular ghost belief in the Philippines, believers report a woman in white with long black hair and her face either completely blank or obscured by blood standing in the middle of the road on Balete Drive. This belief has been popular to the Filipino's because countless of car crash has been reported happening because of this. The popular balete drive has made many people not driving at night because of the fear of having the same fate as many who seen the lady on balete drive. This belief has affected many people for the locals in Quezon City, Philippines(http://listverse.com/2009/12/27/top-10-famous-real-ghosts/)
"The Flying Dutchman" a popular ghost tale from Cape of good hope on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. The ship and its crew became eternally cursed when its Dutch captain refused to take safe harbor during a storm rage despite pleas from the crew and passengers. It is always viewed as a bad omen to see the ship and it is believed that the sailor who originally sees the vessel will fall to his death. The popular flying dutchman has affected many of the sailors in the Cape of Good hope because their beliefs on the tale has made thousands of sailor not want to sail there and it has affected their transportation and trades with other countries for many years.
"Bloody Mary" is a popular ghost who was said to have murdered her kids long ago. It is said in the folklore if you want to see her go into a bathroom (usually at school), turn the lights off, stand in front of a mirror, and repeat her name three times. Most either stare at their scared reflection in the dark mirror or lose their nerve after saying the second "Bloody Mary" and run screaming from the bathroom in girlish giggles. This belief has made children a great change to children some doesn't want to be alone in restrooms and some run to death when the lights are off in a certain place which is definitely a bad practice for children.(http://www.livescience.com/11364-top-10-famous-ghosts.html)
Factors influencing the ghost beliefs of people
A. Ghost stories
Countless of ghost stories has been told from throughout the globe by elders, adults and even children, with all these happening their popularity will soon affect the whole wide world and bring even more fears to the public which is really alarming.
Stories like Bloody Mary, The Flying Dutcman, Ghost of Balete drive and many more are believed because stories about them are becoming more and more popular as time goes by and they are the said root of many accidents or deaths that have happened that is why they are feared and because of that common misconceptions people are forced to believe.
However we cannot trust or believe all these stories because they are not even proven. Some stories are only made to bring fear to people and they are not even 100 percent accurate some stories are created more and more exaggerated as time goes by and ghosts are getting more scary because of these made up stories.
B. Movies
Ghosts are not only introduced in Stories but also like books, they are now adapted by films because of the demand of people in the entertainment industry. Ghosts and scary movies are popular nowadays, the people's taste in movies has also changed. People nowadays much prefer scary movies, movies that give chills to their spines, movies that challenge their selves into watching these films eventhough scared.
However movies adapted in stories are made exaggerated and made more creatively by directors because of their want to satisfy the viewers adrenaline but this comes with a bad effect, yes we are liking the way they create movies but with these movies we develop great fears of ghosts and because of the fact they manipulate our minds with creating scenes that are so scary in the fantasy our mind pushes ourselves to believe that it can happen to reality which is really uncomfortable.
Beliefs adapted in movies like the flying dtchman which was recently featured in the movie "Pirates of the Carribean". Another one is Bloody mary which was updated and was made into a horror film series "Candyman." and the ever popular the Amityville horror house by writers George and Kathy Lutz which was made into the movie "Amity horror" these are the examples of movies made creatively and is made to be watched not believed.
C. Coincidental Events
Some accidents are said to be work by said ghosts in the beliefs and because of that we are forced to believe that they really work of unseen ghosts without basing on its scientific explanations. The balete drive which is the most popular and believed stories in the Philippines is one example of Coincidental events because there were hundreds of car crash has happened on that same place that is why these beliefs are believed to be true.
Disregarding the science explained causes like reckless driving, drunk driver, engine failure, and even common driver failures. We should not practice believing this beliefs because of these coincidental events we should be realistic and think about what will happen if we create such rumors that will affect other people and their feelings.
D. Media
Media is the number one source of information and many people are influenced by it. If someone sees one video that is really interesting and shares it in social media the video will go viral and becomes popular that millions of people will see it. Ghosts has popular in the media for quite sometime now and it has been watched and subscribed maybe because people are curious about these matters.
Recently ghost shows are said to be conquering the real life shows in the state of America. Shows like Celebrity ghost stories, My ghost stories, and ghost hunters. Many viewers are subscribing to these programs because these stories are made believe sitcoms that is somehow nerve-recking and interesting.
E. Disciplinary Actions
Ghosts are said to be introduced by parents to children in an early age which ranges to ages two to seven. They are said to be used in disciplining their children by using ghosts to scare the child in favor of doing what they want. A popular example of this is the boogeyman that is said to creep at the bottom of the bed this ideal is used to discipline children in to staying on their beds if ever they wake up in the middle of the night.
However researchers say that having them think of that thought can cause really negative feedback. Yes, your child can get used of not waking up in the middle of the night but this factor is really unnecessary to do cause it will only affect children in a way of producing nightmares, night fears, and great nervousness in the children's part.
Chapter 3
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
This paper attempted to determine the bad effects of ghost beliefs to people and children.
The research design used in this study is the Action and Research method wherein research design that lends itself to use in work or community situations and solution-driven research rather than testing theories were used to answer the question posed. The research findings are the following:
1. Ghost beliefs are bad for people because they bring fear and misconceptions, which is affected by Ghosts stories and using ghosts as disciplinary actions to children.
2. Ghosts beliefs are bad influences for people with the help of media because of what we see in movies and shows is what we are forced to believe.
3.Ghost beliefs can make people develop deep fears in some places that can lead to Phasmophobia, which is affected by coincidental effects.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the findings of this study. The following conclusions are drawn :
1. It is a bad idea that people/adults should use ghosts as a disciplinary action and fearing their children because it can only bring more problems in the child's psychology.
2. In adapting a ghost story into films or media shows, the creative director must not aim to capture the hearts of the viewers by adding exaggerating ideas that is not realistic. They should consider what is really happening and not exaggerate ghosts because it will only confuse the audience in believing what ghosts are capable of.
3.Believing in ghosts can only cause fear and nervousness that leads to insanity and Phasmophobia.
RECOMMENDATIONS
After drawing the conclusions of the study, the researchers hereby make the following suggestions/recommendations :
1. In adapting a ghost story to a movie one must base the happenings in a more realistic way stick to the idea the story teller makes and stick to their story.
2. We should learn to never talk to kids about ghosts in a very young age and it will be much better if they are not anymore introduced to ghostly beliefs.
3. We should not believe things we see about ghosts in media, movies and games and it should stay in its category as entertainment and not applied in beliefs in reality.
4. We never use ghosts as pranks or use them to fear other people because we may never expect people can have phasmophobia and become insane.
ReferencesA. Electronic Media
"Belief in ghosts is on the increase."(2013) Retrieved April 7, 2014 from
http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/254654/belief-in-ghosts-is-on-the-increase.html
Frater, Jamie(2009)."Top 10 Famous Real Ghosts" Retrieved April 8, 2014 from
http://listverse.com/2009/12/27/top-10-famous-real-ghosts.html
Radford, Benjamin(2007)."Top 10 Most Famous Ghosts" Retrieved April 8, 2014 from
http://www.livescience.com/11364-top-10-famous-ghosts.html
