desensitisation

• What is desensitisation?


  Repeated exposure to aggression reduces normal arousal making aggressive behaviour more likely.
• Desensitisation

  Repeated exposure to violent media promotes the belief that using aggression as a method of resolving conflict is socially acceptable. Negative attitudes towards violence weaken, less empathy felt for victims, their injuries are minimised and dismissed
• Krahe et al (2011) - AO3 support


  Showed ppts violent (and non-violent) video clips whilst measuring physiological arousal. Ppts who have previously watched lots of violent films demonstrated lower levels of physiological arousal when shown the violent video clips.
• Strengths of desensitisation

  Desensitisation can also have an adaptive role. For example, within the armed forces, a degree of desensitisation allows combat troops to be more effective in their roles. . This suggests that desensitisation to violence should be encourages in certain job roles to enhance performance rather than being seen as a threat.
• Limitations of desensitisation

  Krahé et al.'s study failed to find a link between media viewing, low arousal and provoked aggression. This suggests that desensitisation may not explain the impact of violent media exposure on all forms of aggressive behaviour.