desensitisation AO1

Question 1

what is desensitisation?

Answer 1

• reduced sensitivity to a stimulus
• this may be psychological (e.g less emotional response) or physiological (e.g lowered heart rate)

Question 2

how does desensitisation link to aggression?

Answer 2

• this reduced response may make a behaviour such as aggression more likely

Question 3

normally when we witness …. actions we experience ….. arousal associated with the ….. ….. system, such as ….. …. …. , higher ….. ….. and more …… . but when children ….. …. …. on tv or play ….. ….. …., they become ….. to its ….. . so a stimulus that is usually ….. has a lesser ….. so anxiety and arousal become ….. on …. viewing or playing

Answer 3

normally when we witness violent actions we experience physiological arousal associated with the sympathetic nervous system, such as increased heart rate, higher blood pressure and more sweating. but when children repeatedly view aggression tv or play violent computer games, they become used to its effects. so a stimulus that is usually aversive has a lesser impact so anxiety and arousal become lower on repeated viewing or playing

Question 4

what does repeated exposure to violent media promote?

Answer 4

• a belief that using aggression as a method of resolving conflict is socially acceptable.

Question 5

what did funk et al find?

Answer 5

• negative attitudes towards violence weaken, less empathy is felt for victims and their injuries are minimised and dismissed