15.6.2 Desensitisation

• What is desensitisation in the context of psychology?

  Reduction in emotional responsiveness
• Repeated exposure to violent content leads to diminished sensitivity
• Desensitisation can lead to increased acceptance of violent acts.
• How can constant exposure to violence in video games affect individuals?

  Reduce empathy, increase aggression
• Order the psychological processes involved in desensitisation.

  1️⃣ Initial Emotional Reaction

  2️⃣ Repeated Exposure

  3️⃣ Reduced Emotional Impact

  4️⃣ Increased Acceptance
• Match the stage of desensitisation with its key process and emotional response.

  Stage 1: Initial Exposure ↔️ Key Process: Initial Reaction ||| Emotional Response: Strong fear, disgust

  Stage 2: Repeated Exposure ↔️ Key Process: Gradual desensitisation ||| Emotional Response: Reduced fear

  Stage 3: Reduced Impact ↔️ Key Process: Diminished reaction ||| Emotional Response: Less emotional impact

  Stage 4: Increased Acceptance ↔️ Key Process: Normalisation of violence ||| Emotional Response: Acceptance of violence
• Media violence can reduce emotional responsiveness to violence, leading to desensitisation
• What are the effects of media violence on empathy and acceptance of aggression?

  Reduced empathy, increased acceptance
• Desensitisation can result in reduced concern for violence.
• Carnagey et al. (2007) found that frequent exposure to violent video games reduced participants' physiological
• What did Funk et al. (2004) find regarding empathy levels in children who viewed violent media?

  Lower empathy towards victims
• Desensitisation involves a reduction in emotional responsiveness to violence
• The initial emotional reaction in desensitisation involves strong fear and disgust.
• Order the psychological processes involved in desensitisation:

  1️⃣ Initial Emotional Reaction

  2️⃣ Repeated Exposure

  3️⃣ Reduced Emotional Impact

  4️⃣ Increased Acceptance
• What is the final stage in the desensitisation process?

  Increased Acceptance
• Media violence can lead to desensitisation, reducing emotional responsiveness to violent acts.
• Match the effect of media violence with its outcome:

  Reduced Empathy ↔️ Increased Aggression

  Increased Acceptance ↔️ More Aggressive Tendencies

  Diminished Reaction ↔️ Less Concern for Violence
• What type of media is often cited as an example of desensitisation in research?

  Violent video games
• Carnagey et al. (2007) found that frequent exposure to violent video games reduced physiological responses to violence
• What research method did Funk et al. (2004) use to study empathy levels in children?

  Survey and interviews
• Research by Carnagey et al. (2007) supports the desensitisation theory.
• What is a methodological limitation of desensitisation research?

  Lab settings are artificial
• Match the aspect of desensitisation with its description:

  Reduced Empathy ↔️ Less emotional response to others' suffering

  Increased Acceptance ↔️ Normalisation of violent behaviour

  Diminished Reaction ↔️ Decreased emotional impact of violence
• Repeated exposure to violence can lead to more aggressive tendencies
• Correlational studies cannot establish causation
• Which studies provide evidence for the desensitisation theory?

  Carnagey et al. (2007) and Funk et al. (2004)
• Desensitisation is the reduction in emotional responsiveness to violence through repeated exposure
• Constant exposure to violence can lead to a more accepting attitude towards violence and suffering.