15.6.3 Disinhibition

• What does disinhibition refer to in the context of aggression and media influences?

  Weakening of behavioral constraints
• Disinhibition refers to the weakening of internal and societal constraints on behavior due to media exposure
• Media content often portrays aggressive behavior as acceptable or heroic, diminishing perceived negative consequences.
• Steps in the process of disinhibition through media exposure

  1️⃣ Exposure to media portraying aggression

  2️⃣ Weakening of internal constraints and societal norms

  3️⃣ Decreased perception of negative consequences

  4️⃣ Increased likelihood of aggressive behavior
• Normalization in disinhibition refers to justifying media aggression as necessary.

  False
• Exposure to media portraying aggression as acceptable or heroic weakens internal constraints and societal norms
• How does reduced guilt contribute to disinhibition?

  Normalizes violent behavior
• Desensitization leads to increased empathy and reduced aggression.

  False
• How does reduced guilt contribute to the effects of media violence on aggression?

  Normalizes violent acts
• Media violence can make aggression seem common and acceptable
• Desensitization reduces emotional responses to violence.
• Why might a teenager who frequently watches violent video games become more aggressive?

  Reduced guilt and desensitization
• Disinhibition occurs when media violence weakens internal and societal constraints
• Media violence portrays aggressive behavior as acceptable, reducing negative consequences.
• What is the effect of media violence on internal constraints according to disinhibition theory?

  Weakening of constraints
• Media violence can lead to a decreased perception of negative consequences
• Exposure to violent media may make children more prone to aggressive outbursts.
• Which psychological mechanisms support the impact of media violence on disinhibition?

  Reduced guilt and desensitization
• Disinhibition theory is criticized for failing to consider complex factors like genetics and environment
• Disinhibition theory accounts for individual differences in susceptibility to media influence.

  False
• Why might a child from a supportive family be less influenced by violent media compared to one from a dysfunctional home?

  Strong moral values
• Disinhibition reduces perceived negative consequences and erodes moral barriers
• Match the key aspects of disinhibition with their descriptions:

  Weakening of Constraints ↔️ Internal and societal restraints on behavior decrease

  Negative Consequences ↔️ Perceived penalties for aggression diminish

  Moral Barriers ↔️ Moral values against aggression erode
• How does media violence portray aggressive behavior in disinhibition theory?

  As acceptable
• Steps in the process of disinhibition through media exposure:

  1️⃣ Exposure to media violence

  2️⃣ Weakening of internal constraints

  3️⃣ Reduced perception of negative consequences

  4️⃣ Erosion of moral barriers

  5️⃣ Increased likelihood of aggression
• What happens to internal and societal constraints on behavior during disinhibition?

  They are weakened
• Disinhibition leads to increased aggression
• Steps in the process of disinhibition through media exposure

  1️⃣ Exposure to media portraying aggression as acceptable or heroic

  2️⃣ Weakening of internal and societal norms against aggression

  3️⃣ Decreased perception of negative consequences

  4️⃣ Increased likelihood of engaging in aggressive behavior
• Exposure to violent media always leads to immediate aggressive behavior

  False
• One psychological mechanism of disinhibition is reduced guilt
• Match the psychological mechanism with its description:

  Reduced guilt ↔️ Media normalizes violence, diminishing negative consequences of aggressive acts.

  Cognitive dissonance ↔️ Justifying media aggression as acceptable to align actions with beliefs.

  Normalization ↔️ Media makes aggression seem common and acceptable.

  Desensitization ↔️ Repeated exposure to violence reduces emotional response.
• Repeated exposure to media violence can lead to desensitization and reduced empathy.
• What does media violence portray aggressive behavior as?

  Acceptable
• Media violence normalizes aggressive behavior, making it seem less wrong
• What is one effect of media violence on internal constraints?

  They are weakened
• A child exposed to violent media may become desensitized and prone to aggressive outbursts.
• Match the limitation of disinhibition theory with its counter-argument:

  Oversimplification ↔️ Fails to consider complex factors like genetics, environment, and personal experiences.

  Individual differences ↔️ Does not account for varying susceptibility to media influence among individuals.

  Cultural variations ↔️ Neglects how cultural norms and values moderate the impact of media violence.

  Lack of longitudinal evidence ↔️ Mostly based on short-term studies, limiting conclusions about long-term effects.
• What does disinhibition theory fail to consider regarding the causes of aggression?

  Complex factors
• A child from a supportive family may be less influenced by violent media than one from a dysfunctional home
• Steps in the process of disinhibition according to real-world examples

  1️⃣ Exposure to media violence

  2️⃣ Weakening of constraints

  3️⃣ Decreased perception of negative consequences

  4️⃣ Increased aggression