Desensitisation/Disinhibition/Cognitive Priming

Question 1

What is desensitisation

Answer 1

Reduced sensitivity to violence after viewing repeatedly in media
-Can be psychological/physiological

Question 2

Psychological effects of desensitisation

Answer 2

-Belief that using aggression to resolve conflict is socially acceptable
-Less negative attitude to violence
-Less empathy for victims

Question 3

Physiological effects of desensitisation

Answer 3

Lower arousal of the sympathetic nervous system/less emotional response

Question 4

Lab study on desensitisation

Answer 4

Weisz/Earls (1995) had pps watch graphic rape scene from film Straw Dogs then re-enactment of rape trial

Question 5

Results of Weisz/Earls study

Answer 5

-Male viewers showed + acceptance of rape myths/sexual aggression
- Less sympathy for rape victim
-Less likely to find defendant guilty

Question 6

What is disinhibition

Answer 6

Lack of restraint
-Usual social/psychological inhibitions against aggression are loosened when exposed to violent media where violence is seen as acceptable/rewarded

=New social norms for viewer

Question 7

Cognitive priming

Answer 7

Repeated viewing of aggressive media= script about how violent situations play out
-Huesmann said script stored in memory and we become primed to be aggressive

Question 8

What is the cognitive priming script triggered by

Answer 8

Cues in a situation that we perceive as aggressive

Question 9

Is cognitive priming automatic

Answer 9

YES- Directs our behaviour without our awareness

Question 10

Study into cognitive priming

Answer 10

Peter Fischer/Greitemeyer
-Men listened to songs with derogatory women lyrics/neutral lyrics= derogatory recalled more negative qualities about women/behaved aggressively towards female confederate

Question 11

Strength of desensitisation

Answer 11

Research support
-Krahe et al had pps watch violent films
-Habitual viewers of violent media showed lower levels of arousal/blasted more white noise at confederate without provocation

-Lower arousal reflects desensitisation to effects of violence/linked to greater willingness to be aggressive

Question 12

Weakness of desensitisation

Answer 12

Cannot explain some aggression e.g catharsis
-Psychodynamic theory suggests viewing violent media is safety valve to release aggressive impulses without violence

=Not all aggression result of desensitisation/alternative explanations may be more valid

Question 13

Strength of disinhibition

Answer 13

Research support
-e.g Berkowitz/Alioto: pps watched film depicting aggression as vengeance= gave more fake electric shocks to confederate
-Media violence may disinhibit aggression if shown as justified/socially acceptable

Demonstrates link between removal of social constraints/aggression

Question 14

Strength 2 of disinhibition (explaining cartoon violence)

Answer 14

Children no learn specific aggressive behaviours from cartoons (often physically impossible), instead learn aggression is socially acceptable, especially if character not punished= disinhibition

So explains how observing cartoon violence can lead to aggression

Question 15

Strength of cognitive priming

Answer 15

Aggression often depends on interpretation of environmental cues and this depends on cognitive scripts
-Bushman/Anderson said habitual viewers access stored scripts quicker so more likely to interpret cues as aggressive without considering alternatives

Suggests interventions could - aggression by challenging hostile cognitive biases

Question 16

Weakness of cognitive priming

Answer 16

Confounding variables in research
-e.g Research found playing violent video games= + aggression HOWEVER violent games more complex than non-violent
-Zendle removes complexity= priming effects disappeared

=Supportive findings of priming studies may be due to confounding variables