Media influences- Role of desensitisation, Disinhibition, cog priming

Question 1

Outline desensitisation and it’s effects on aggression

Answer 1

Desensitisation is when people have a reduced physiological response due to aggression (arousal associated with SNS: sweating)
As well as reduced psychological response when repeatedly exposed to violent media
Leads to people thinking aggressive behaviour is socially appropriate and feels less empathy for a victim

Question 2

What research supports the theory of desensitisation

Answer 2

Weisz and Earls - 2 groups one previously desensitised to rape and the other is not
Both showed a trailer with rape in and group 2 were affected more

Question 3

Outline Disinhibition and it’s effects on aggression

Answer 3

Disinhibition- exposure of violent media leads to the effect that usual restraints are loosened = Real life aggression is then socially approved- belief that their actions towards a victim is justifiable

Question 4

Name the research evidence for disinhibition

Answer 4

James Bulgar case study

Question 5

Outline Cognitive priming and it’s effects on aggression

Answer 5

Cognitive priming is when people learn a ‘script’ of how to behave when a situation triggers an aggressive cue, due to watching repeated violent media
The script directs our response due to an autonomous process

Question 6

Name the research evidence for Cognitive Priming

Answer 6

Huesmann- scripts are stored in our memory and are ready (primed) to respond to aggressive behaviour

Question 7

AO3
Evaluating the role of desensitisation and how media influences this and causes aggression
RS- suggests computer games produces physiological desensitisation

Answer 7

P- RS suggests computer games produces physiological desensitisation
E- The research support for this found that those who had to watch a violent video games before watching a real violent scene clip, on the monitors showed to be less physically aroused (lower heart rate) than the control group who watched a prosocial video game
E- This demonstrates how much of an impact desensitisation has on aggression-suggesting what could happen in real life when exposed to violence
L- However, this research lacks mundane realism, due to the artificial environment that this study was conducted in- therefore lacks ecological validity because this would not happen in real life situations

Question 8

AO3
Evaluating the role of disinhibition and how media influences this and causes aggression

Effects of not seeing negative consequences of aggression in media–> leads to disinhibition

Answer 8

P- suggested that disinhibition occurs because no negative consequences of aggression are ever shown in media
E- research found that group 1 who didn’t see negative effects of aggression (e.g. not seeing the losing boxer died after the match) were more aggression than group 2 who did see his death
E- This shows the effect of seeing neg consequences in the media- how this leads to disinhibition where usual social restraints are loosened due to not seeing consequences
L- Therefore, aggression occurs more frequently when people then believe that aggressive actions are socially acceptable

Question 9

AO3
Evaluating the role of cognitive priming and how media influences this and causes aggression
RS-Bushman
or
Argument suggesting media violence only leads to aggression if it is realistic - link to cognitive priming

Answer 9

P- Argument suggesting media violence only leads to aggression if it is realistic- because then cognitive priming occurs ( a scripts is learnt of how to behave to aggressive cues
E- research found higher levels of violence when the film is more violent - because priming occurs more with realistic films than animations because that situation is more likely to occur in real life.
E- This suggests how important realistic media is on influencing aggression
L- Therefore, the relationship between exposure of violent films and aggression- is that it priming only develops when the films are realistic