Aggression L12 Media Influences: Desensitisation, Disinhibition and Cognitive Priming

Question 1

What is Desensitisation Theory of Aggression?

Answer 1

• Idea that continual exposure to a stimulus leads to a decrease in our response to said stimulus
• The same way if aggression is presented to us on a daily basis through media our response to it is reduced
• Due to violence now being a part of media, e.g computer games, our response to it is reduced and we suffer no physiological response associated with fear to viewing aggression

Question 2

What is the result of desensitisation?

Answer 2

• The individual is more likely to accept violence and aggression, and respond violently and aggressively with the opportunity to do so

Question 3

What are Strengths of Desensitisation Theory of Aggression?

Answer 3

Four Film Study
- Showed 86 males and 106 females one of four films depicting violence; sexual aggression against a male, sexual aggression against a female, physical aggression and one neutral film
- After viewing all subjects were asked to complete a 252 item questionnaire measuring acceptance of interpersonal violence, rape myths, attraction to aggression and empathy levels
- They then had to view a re-enactment of a rape trial and completed a 23 item questionnaire
- Males were more accepting of interpersonal violence, rape myths, more attracted to aggression and less sympathetic towards the rape victim

Question 4

What are Weaknesses of Desensitisation Theory of Aggression?

Answer 4

Lack of Ecological Validity in Research
- Most studies have been carried out in a lab setting and measured aggression with a questionnaire or behaviour towards confederates within the experiment
- Raises issues of validity as we are unsure if the levels of violence displayed would occur in a real world setting

Question 5

What is Disinhibition Theory of Aggression?

Answer 5

• Proposes our normal restraints towards aggression are loosened after exposure to media violence
• The aggressive behaviour becomes normalised and the norms governing our behaviour become altered from non-acceptance to acceptance
• This way aggression becomes a ‘normal’ and acceptable response, especially in response to a real or imagined wrongdoing
• Viewed aggression thus has an inhibitory effect on consequential aggressive behaviour

Question 6

What are Strengths of Disinhibition Theory of Aggression? (2)

Answer 6

• Supported by Bandura’s SLT
• Practical App to the Army

Question 7

Practical App to the Army (+) (Disinhibition)

Answer 7

• American Army use games as a recruitment tool
• They recruit those with an interest in violence and aggression as a disinhibited response is good for future soldiers
• They have to behave aggressively in wars so it is best for them to see it as the norm, therefore disinhibition is not always a negative thing

Question 8

Supported by Bandura’s SLT (+) (Disinhibition)

Answer 8

• Bandura proposed we learn through observation from role models
• The same way media is a powerful role model for many kids, e.g in adult films James Bond can act as a role model and this can make them think aggression is the right response to have to situations and that it is socially acceptable
• Process of disinhibition can be worse with video games, they want to imitate the aggressive behaviour of a model as in video games it is also rewarded

Question 9

What is Cognitive Priming in Aggression?

Answer 9

• Explanation that proposes the influence of aggression in the media and in computer games provides individuals with a ‘script’ for their responses to environmental stimulus they deem aggressive
• Violent media and computer games may cause aggression to be rewarded, and when the child is in an aggressive situation their internal script may believe that the way to win is through aggression
• This process of cognitive priming can be unconscious and cause automatic responses to cues in the environment

Question 10

What are Strengths of Cognitive Priming in Aggression? (2)

Answer 10

• Real World Application
• Aggressive songs about women

Question 11

Aggressive songs about women (+) (Cog priming)

Answer 11

• Found males who had been exposed to aggressive song lyrics about women were more likely to give higher levels of hot chillis sauce to females rather than males
• They distributed higher amounts than males who had not heard the aggressive lyrics
• Also found misogynistic lyrics resulted in males recalling negative attributes about women and higher levels of aggression
• Same results found on females with ‘men hating’ lyrics

Question 12

Real World Application (+) (Cog priming)

Answer 12

• Argue someone who watches violence regularly access aggressive stored scripts more easily
• They are more likely to interpret cues as aggressive and react in a way of violent solutions as they have been primed to do so
• Suggests intervention could reduce aggressive behaviour by challenging these internal aggressive cognitive scripts

Question 13

What are Weaknesses of Cognitive Priming in Aggression?

Answer 13

CV in Research
- Research has found effects of violent video games primes violent behaviours
- However CV is that violent video games are much more complex in their gameplay, it could be the complexity causing the aggression not the violence