Disinhibition

Question 1

Disinhibition

Answer 1

Video games and violent media cause aggression as they result in disinhibition-a lack of regular controls and inhibitions/impulse control over aggressive behaviour causing us to behave in an uncharacteristically aggressive manner.

Factors within computer games such as anonimity, reduced legal responsibility and feeling as if they are acting as a character all reduce regular controls over behaviour resulting in aggression

Question 2

Bandura

Answer 2

+Bandura and underwood found that if characters in the video game were dehumanised and the person had decreased responsibility, they would be more likely to engage in aggressive behaviour during the video game supporting the idea factors within video games lead to a reduction in inhibition and greater levels of aggression

Question 3

Limitation

Answer 3

-Disinhibition only occurs whilst playing the game, this suggests that video games may not lead to long term aggressive behaviour in real life environment undermining the theory

Question 4

Limitation

Answer 4

-Not everyone experiences disinhibition when in video games, may be that individual factors determine whether video games will have a disinhibiting effect-individual differences are involved, cannot fully explain