The active matrix type liquid crystal display device has a plurality of liquid crystal elements. Each liquid crystal element has a transistor section, a transistor side conductive light shielding film electrically connected to the transistor section, and a liquid crystal element having an opposing electrode coupled to the transistor section. There are a first potential terminal connected to the opposing electrode and a second potential terminal connected to the transistor side conductive light shielding film with a potential applied by the first potential terminal being independent from a potential applied by the second potential terminal. With this arrangement, the lateral field components around the pixel portion, which become a cause for the reverse tilt of the liquid crystal, are relatively reduced with respect to the vertical field components, thus reducing the disclination and providing excellent display characteristics without residual images.