Changes in the degree of closeness ① are quite important in managing emotional intensity. Take, for example, emotions induced by television. Closeness and familiarity are important in making the fictional environment more ② real Accordingly, most TV shows are set in the present or in a time within the memory of the viewers. Most characters are supposed to be types with whom we are familiar. Such closeness and familiarity make it easier for us ③ perceive the imaginary story to be a real one. In other circumstances, such as when violence is shown on TV, the closeness variable is used to reduce emotional intensity. Television entertainment tends to place social problems involving violence in another time and place, letting us watch those fictionalized characters search for solutions to our problems in settings ④ safely distanced from our own. When violence occurs in a contemporary setting, it is generally the product of the interaction of police and criminals ― again, it is ⑤ removed from the lives of good citizenry.