INFLUENCE OF ANIMATED TELEVISION CARTOONS ON THE MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF OGULAGHA SENIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS IN BURUTU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract This study sought to find out the influence of animated Cartoons on the influence of animated television cartoons on the moral development of Ogulagha senior secondary students in Burutu, Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria. Objectives include to: ascertain whether SSS students in Ogulagha are exposed to animated cartoon characters; determine the extent parents influence cartoon viewing habits of their children; examine the influence of animated cartoons on children’s socio-cultural behaviors; and ascertain whether cartoons influence both male and female children equally on social learning and attitude changes. The study was anchored on Social Learning and cultivation theories. The survey based study made use of the questionnaire as data gathering tool from a sample of 277 respondents. Findings of the study revealed that children imitate what they see on cartoons and they exhibit images created in their heads, hence what they watch becomes what they act and determines how they behave, they try and imitate what their favorite characters do in the cartoons they watch, and they happily accept the lifestyle that comes from it. This study recommends that parents should monitor the cartoons children watch and ensure beliefs and notions cartoons display will not corrupt the minds of their children. It is one of the factors that is in play in shaping the minds of children.