Lying, cheating, socially aggressive?

It's likely that you've been watching a soap then. It should come as no surprise that people mirror the behaviour of those they associate with, even when that association is through a TV program.

We learn by example, and what we see portrayed as the 'norm' is what we'll set our behaviour patterns against. The thing is that when you're part of a group it is possible for 'better' individuals to influence the behaviour of the rest of the group, changing outcomes. With a TV program you get whatever the writer wants you to have, and there's no option or escape (who ever turned their TV off in the middle of a 'harmless' program?).