media influences - DESENS, DISINH, COG PRIM

Question 1

what are the 3 theories of media influencing aggression?

Answer 1

• desensitisation
• disinhibition
• cognitive priming

Question 2

define desensitisation

Answer 2

• proposes that with continual exposure to stimulus, our responses to that stimulus are decreased
• therefore, if aggression is presented to us on a daily basis, there is reduction in our response to aggression

Question 3

what does desensitisation cause?

Answer 3

• this causes individuals to be less empathic towards victims and
  increasingly accept aggression as the ‘social norm’
• and reduced physiological responses from the sympathetic nervous system e.g. heart rate, adrenaline, fight or flight

Question 4

what do psychologists propose about desensitisation, due to violent video games?

Answer 4

• can have a negative impact, as individuals may not respond to real aggression with any physiological arousal.
• this means that individuals may be more likely to accept violence and aggression, and respond violently and aggressively

Question 5

who researched into desensitisation and violent video games?

Answer 5

Carnagey

Question 6

outline Carnagey’s research + findings

Answer 6

• desensitisation can be monitored by physical indicators of stress, such as heartbeat
• Carnagey found that experienced computer gamers show less of a reaction to a film of real-life violence

Question 7

how does Carnagey’s research support desensitisation?

Answer 7

• there is a correlation between exposure to violence and aggression in the media, and real-life violence seen

Question 8

how do Carnagey’s findings show implications of desensitisation in real-life

Answer 8

• evidence suggests that our survival instinct will be impacted negatively and fight or flight will be reduced, due to normalisation of aggression

Question 9

define disinhibition

Answer 9

• proposes that our normal restraints are loosened after exposure to media violence
• aggressive behaviour becomes normalised and the norms governing our behaviour become altered, leading to aggression seen as a ‘normal’ response in certain circumstances

Question 10

what does disinhibition cause?

Answer 10

• the media presents aggressive role models e.g. superheroes, and exposure to violent video games without punishment
• it can lead to norms that aggression is socially acceptable as a response, and therefore, this response becomes more likely

Question 11

who researched factors of disinhibition?

Answer 11

Collins

Question 12

what are the 6 individual factors that Collin proposed that make aggression more likely?

Answer 12

1. violent home background
2. physical punishment of children
3. younger viewers
4. children with low intelligence
5. children who believe super-heroes are realistic
6. children who believe the media reflects real-life

Question 13

define cognitive priming

Answer 13

• proposes that the influence of aggression in the media and in computer games provides individuals with aggressive schemas

Question 14

what can cognitive priming lead to

Answer 14

cognitive priming can activate memories of aggressive behaviour seen in the media and make aggression more likely in real-life

Question 15

who researched cognitive priming?

Answer 15

Murray

Question 16

outline Murray’s research + findings

Answer 16

• used fMRI scans to study children’s brains when watching violent, and non-violent films
• violent films led to increased activity in areas which deal with emotion, arousal and attention
• also found increased activity in the areas used to store episodic memory

Question 17

how do Murray’s findings support cognitive priming?

Answer 17

supports the suggestion that children store ‘scripts’ of aggression when consuming aggressive media

Question 18

evaluation: low ecological validity

Answer 18

ID: low ecological validity
Q: most research has been carried out in lab settings and has measured aggression levels on a questionnaire or in response to artificial stimulus
EV: Norms governing particularly aggressive behaviour in public may be far more likely to inhibit an aggressive response, where the repercussions could be fines or a prison sentence
AN: therefore, this raises issues of external validity, as to whether the measured violence would occur in a real-life setting

Question 19

evaluation: practical applications

Answer 19

ID: research has practical applications
Q: the American Army uses games as a recruiting tool
EV: for example, from the perspective of the Armed Forces, recruiting individuals with an interest in violence and a disinhibited response to aggression is beneficial for future soldiers. this is because, if soldiers didn’t automatically and quickly respond aggressively in a threat situation, this could have potential issues for their own survival and those people they are trying to protect
AN: this is a strength of media influences of aggression as it has provided useful explanations of aggression, which have been applied in real-life settings, increasing external valdity