desentisitation, disinhibited and cognitive priming

Question 1

what is desensitisation?

Answer 1

reduced sensitivity to a stimulus. this may be psychological (less emotional response) or physiological (eg lowered heart rate). this reduced response may make a behaviour such as aggression more likely.

Question 2

desensitisation elaboration

Answer 2

•normally when we witness violence we experience physiological arousal associated with the sympathetic nervous system (increased heart and breathing rate, sweating)
•when we are repeatedly presented with violence in games/ TV we become habituated to its effects- we no longer respond
•there is a reduction of anxiety and physiological arousal

Question 3

what did Funk find?

Answer 3

•desensitisation is psychological as well as physiological
•repeated exposure promotes a belief that using aggression is acceptable
•negative attitude towards violence means less empathy is felt towards victims
•this all leads to increased aggression

Question 4

what was Weisz and Earl’s study?

Answer 4

•showered participants the film Straw Dogs which contains graphic rape scenes. they were made to consume violent media
•they were compared with a control group who watched non- sexually violent films
•the viewers of Straw dogs showed a greater acceptance of aggression and less sympathy towards victims (no effect on female participants)