media influences on aggression: desensitisation, disinhibition and cognitive priming Flashcards
1
Q
explain desensitisation?
A
- when we witness violence= physiological arousal eg. increased heart rate
- but for children who repeatedly view aggression they become habituated to its effects= reduction in anxiety/ heart rate
2
Q
explain the lab study (rape case) for desensitisation?
A
- Weisz and Earls showed pp’s film w/ rape scene then watched a re-enactment of rape trial
- compared to those who watched non-sexually violent film, male viewers of rape movie showed less sympathy to victim of trial and less likely to find rapist guilty
- STRENGTH
- no effect on females
- shows effects of desensitisation
3
Q
evaluate a weakness for the lab study (rape case) for desensitisation?
A
- WEAKNESS
- gender bias (beta bias- differences between men and women are minimised)
- only provides results for desensitisation in men not women
- limited
4
Q
explain Disinhibition?
A
- most people believe violence is harmful encouraged by social norms against aggression
- Disinhibition explanation believes visual restraints r loosened after 30 seconds of exposure to violent media as it makes aggression normative
5
Q
evaluate aggression as vengeance?
A
- STRENGTH
- study found that pp’s who watched aggressive movies depicting vengeance- gave more electric shocks to confederate
- media violence may Disinhibit aggression when its viewed as justified
- valid as it shows link between Disinhibition and aggression
6
Q
explain cognitive priming?
A
- Huseman says repeated viewing of aggressive media rewrites script stored in memory so we r primed to aggression
- automatic when we encounter aggressive situations
7
Q
evaluate music lyrics in priming
A
- STRENGTH
- male pp’s listen to song with lyrics that were derogatory towards women, compared to neutral lyrics
- -they recounted more negative aspects about women and were more aggressive to female confederate
- similar results when genders were reversed
- supports cognite priming
