Desentitisation

Question 1

Desentitisation

Answer 1

Media may cause aggression because of desentitisation, when someone is repeatedly exposed to violent media, they will become desentitised to the violence and aggression-aggression will no longer provoke fear or a negative response-people get used to violence and their psychological response is reduced, they may see violence as less bad and be more tolerant of it and more likely to engage in it.

Question 2

Strengths of desentitisation theory

Answer 2

+Research support, Drabman and Thomas found that children with higher exposure to violent media were more tolerant of violence
+Practical app-parents can reduce exposure to violence reducing childhood aggression

Question 3

Who found that more exposure to violent media led to higher tolerance of aggression

Answer 3

Drabman and Thomas

Question 4

Limitations of desentitisation theory

Answer 4

-Belson found no link between time spent watching TV and aggressive behaviour suggesting media exposure doesn’t have a desensititsation effect leading to violence.

Question 5

Who found no link between time spent watching TV and aggressive behaviour

Answer 5

Belson