What is desensitisation in the context of media influences on aggression?

Desensitisation is the process by which repeated exposure to media violence reduces emotional and physiological responses to aggression, making violent behaviour seem more acceptable and less distressing.

How does repeated exposure to violent media contribute to desensitisation?

Repeated exposure to violent media gradually diminishes the novelty and shock value of aggressive content, leading to habituation where the viewer no longer responds with the same intensity to violent imagery.

What happens to emotional reactivity when someone becomes desensitised to media violence?

Emotional reactivity to violence is reduced, meaning individuals experience less distress, empathy for victims, or negative emotional responses when witnessing aggressive acts.

How does desensitisation affect physiological arousal in response to aggressive content?

Physiological arousal (such as increased heart rate or skin conductance) decreases when viewing violent content, indicating the body no longer responds with a stress reaction to aggression.

What effect does desensitisation have on anxiety about violence?

Desensitisation lowers anxiety about violence, meaning individuals feel less worried or concerned about aggressive acts they witness or contemplate.

How might desensitisation to media violence affect tolerance of real-life aggression?

It increases tolerance of aggression in real life, making individuals more accepting of violent behaviour and less likely to intervene or view it as problematic.

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Aggression

Media influences on aggression

5 things to know
Paper 3

Overview

Desensitisation, disinhibition and cognitive priming as routes from media violence to aggression, and why interactive games may differ from passive viewing.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Process

How does repeated exposure to media violence reduce reactions?

Process

How does violent media weaken the brakes on aggressive behaviour?

Process

How does cognitive priming link violent media to aggression?

Process

Why might playing violent computer games affect aggression more than watching?

Evaluation

Evaluate research on media violence and aggression.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is desensitisation in the context of media influences on aggression?
Model answer
Desensitisation is the process by which repeated exposure to media violence reduces emotional and physiological responses to aggression, making violent behaviour seem more acceptable and less distressing.
2
How does repeated exposure to violent media contribute to desensitisation?
Model answer
Repeated exposure to violent media gradually diminishes the novelty and shock value of aggressive content, leading to habituation where the viewer no longer responds with the same intensity to violent imagery.
3
What happens to emotional reactivity when someone becomes desensitised to media violence?
Model answer
Emotional reactivity to violence is reduced, meaning individuals experience less distress, empathy for victims, or negative emotional responses when witnessing aggressive acts.
4
How does desensitisation affect physiological arousal in response to aggressive content?
Model answer
Physiological arousal (such as increased heart rate or skin conductance) decreases when viewing violent content, indicating the body no longer responds with a stress reaction to aggression.
5
What effect does desensitisation have on anxiety about violence?
Model answer
Desensitisation lowers anxiety about violence, meaning individuals feel less worried or concerned about aggressive acts they witness or contemplate.
6
How might desensitisation to media violence affect tolerance of real-life aggression?
Model answer
It increases tolerance of aggression in real life, making individuals more accepting of violent behaviour and less likely to intervene or view it as problematic.

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