Explanations for media influence

• What is Desensitisation? 


  Refers to how anxiety about violence inhibits its use

  • Media violence may lead to aggressive behaviour by removing this anxiety
  • The more violence a child watches, the more ‘normal it becomes, and so does the likelihood of them engaging in it
• What are two consequences of desensitisation?

  They are:

  1. Less sympathy for victims of violence
  2. Fewer negative attitudes about violence

  Both of which increase the chance of aggressive responses in real life
• What is cognitive priming?


  This refers to…

  • Constant exposure to media violence
  • This leads to the activation of violent thoughts, which then triggers the activation of other aggressive thoughts through their association pathways
• What are the consequences of this?

  These are that…

  • Frequent activation due to prolonged media exposure lowers the activation threshold for aggressive thoughts
  • This means that they are more readily available
  • Then are used to process and interpret information
• What is Disinhibition?


  This refers to the idea that…

  • Exposure to violent media can increase the chance of a person using violence in their own life
  • this is by undermine the social sanctions that usually inhibit such behaviour
• what are the consequences of Disinhibition?


  It gives he message that violence is an acceptable part of everyday life

  When TV show or video game characters are justified orgo unpunished, the viewers guilt or concern for consequences is reduced