The tendency to see one's life as being in a continual state of crisis, caused by watching half-hour daytime TV shows that are not morality tales as in Aesop's Fables, but rather a never-ending series of unresolved crises.
"Alice's Soap Opera Syndrome caused her to have a tendency to seek conflict rather than resolution to her interpersonal problems."
by Mark_Trail December 28, 2016
The tendency to be mesmerized by television. Trance like state brought on by televised commercial advertisements interspersed with fragments of dramatic teleplays. Also, as a component of post-industrial consciousness. e.g. "Television rules the nation."
The term references the advent of drama created to sell soap, soap operas. Broadcast on radio with soap manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, and Lever Brothers as sponsors and producers.
The term references the advent of drama created to sell soap, soap operas. Broadcast on radio with soap manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, and Lever Brothers as sponsors and producers.
Alice: Everyone says I probably have Attention Deficit Disorder. It's possible considering I am easily distracted. Theres got to be some excuse. What do you think? Bob?
Bob: Huh? Sorry Alice I was zoned on this laundry detergent advert. Tide really does get my whites whiter and only 'mildly' pollutes our drinking water.
Alice: I'm thirsty.
Alien: Soap Opera Syndrome
Advertisements take airtime away from programs. In the 1960s a typical hour-long American show would run for 51 minutes excluding advertisements. Today, a similar program would only be 42 minutes long; a typical 30-minute block of time now includes 22 minutes of programming with 6 minutes of national advertising and 2 minutes of local.
Bob: Huh? Sorry Alice I was zoned on this laundry detergent advert. Tide really does get my whites whiter and only 'mildly' pollutes our drinking water.
Alice: I'm thirsty.
Alien: Soap Opera Syndrome
Advertisements take airtime away from programs. In the 1960s a typical hour-long American show would run for 51 minutes excluding advertisements. Today, a similar program would only be 42 minutes long; a typical 30-minute block of time now includes 22 minutes of programming with 6 minutes of national advertising and 2 minutes of local.
by Oracle Arion October 02, 2009