Additionally, media portrayals of romantic relationships influence the way people think about the supposed workings of those relationships. Once people are exposed to television sitcoms and dramas, they begin to believe and fantasize how their relationships should be because most people (depending on time spent watching television) begin to believe what they see on television, some of which being quite unrealistic. This leads to the creation of idealized beliefs about marriage among many people. They then begin to have unrealistic expectations of their partners to deliver empathetic communication perfectly and read their minds for the success of their relationships. Since media content is selected in order to maximise pleasure and minimise aversion, these choices are made mindlesslessly without the consideration of their effects. For instance, someone going through a recent breakup may select tv shows that relate to the break up without thinking about it. This indicates that people may choose the media they consume to satisfy their social and emotional needs. 

These are particularly influential on adolescents because adolescence is the age where individuals begin to learn about love and romantic relationships. Therefore, they are looking to the media to learn how to understand the roles and workings of such relationships. Because adolescents are still in the early stages of learning about love and relationships, they are easily influenced and imitate what they have learned from television. As a result, they are frequently the main target of a lot of sitcoms and certain dramas since they are far more susceptible to unrealistic messages. However, this illustrated reality is often inconsistent with the objective reality of the world. 

Apart from that, television portrayals of the medical field also influence the public’s perception of physicians, nurses, patients and hospitals. While medical dramas strive to maintain accuracy, their need to entice viewers with drama may lead to a representation of health care that is significantly removed from real life and develop an unrealistic perception of the daily events and activities involving patients and staff at their local hospital. This is particularly true for trauma patients and their families who may become overoptimistic about the recovery timelines and processes. 

Television images also provide an unrealistic preview of the workplace by distorting viewer perceptions of what actually occurs in the workplace. Commonly portrayed televised workplace images may have an impact on organizational outcomes, as these unrealistic images become the basis for individual expectations within the actual workplace. Television depictions are often unrealistic in terms of the workforce required and their behaviours. There is often an overrepresentation of individuals in professional and high-status careers and TV dramas often downplay the educational requirement for specific occupations. Consequences of negative workplace behaviours such as sexual harassment are also downplayed and disregarded. 

Whether telly dramas offer a way of escapism, provide emotional healing or build unrealistic expectations is an entangled phenomenon. They can serve as comforting companions, offering a temporary refuge from reality and even helping viewers process complex emotions through vicarious experiences. At the same time, they risk creating distorted ideals about relationships, careers, and everyday life, often leaving viewers with unrealistic expectations and subtle dissatisfaction. Therefore, mindful viewing becomes essential so that individuals can harness the emotional comfort of telly dramas without letting them quietly undermine their mental well-being.