Through the anthropological perspective: The effects of fictional visual media characters on children's social cognitive learning

This research focuses on the effects of the fictional characters that are presented in the visual media, mainly television, on the social cognitive learning of children between the ages 6-9 from an anthropological perspective. First part of the research was conducted in Mehmet Akif Ersoy Primary School in Ataşehir, İstanbul, and second part was conducted in an English course in Ataşehir for children between the ages 6 – 14 during 2019 Fall Semester. For the theoretical background, the literature on globalization, media anthropology, media studies and sociology; and for the Analysis of the effects of fictional characters on children and their behavior Social Learning and Social Cognitive Theories were utilized. Presenting the methodology, and field experience in a self-reflexive manner, the findings are presented and analyzed through the given theoretical perspectives. In conclusion, this research, by presenting the examples and analysis, claims that the fictional characters in visual media are quite effective on the social cognitive learning of children, and calls attention to the importance of present and future researches of the media and children relationship.