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Desensitization Theory Summary

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The desensitizing theory, according to Scharrer, is when someone is consistently exposed to violence via the television, internet, radio, movies, and video games, and they become desensitized to the violence as if it was an everyday normal occurrence (Scharrer, 2008, pg. 292). Scharrer goes on to say, on the next page, that the more excessive the exposure to violence is, an emotional response is created where the empathy of victims decrease (Scharrer, 2008, pg. 293). People who tend to consider other people’s feelings are more resistant to desensitization (Scharrer, 2008, pg. 302). Bushman also found in his study that people would be less likely to helps others in need due to a consequence of a physiological desensitization (Bushman, 2009, pg. 273). Bushman’s study revealed that …show more content…

The General Aggression model says that the more video gamers play violent games, the more they become aggressive. The Catalyst Model is where the video games become the catalyst for aggressive behavior and not just the trigger (Surette, 2013, pg. 393). Surette continues with his rebuke saying that the courts have dismissed charges that the media causes criminal violence (Surette, 2013, pg. 393). However, he also states that people must have a predisposition to aggression prior to seeing any violence on the media in order for them to act out in violence (Surette, 2013, pg. 394). Perhaps there were family issues that brought out some of the aggression but after the person would watch violence either in the home, on the television, or elsewhere, they would be more susceptible to violence. This is confirmed by Bushman and Anderson’s study that proves watching violence encourages or propels aggression (Bushman & Anderson, 2001, pg. 480). In the past 30 years, there has been a noticeable difference in this. Just look at some of the kids today and their unwillingness to mind their parents or any

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In a fair amount of school shootings, the shooters have been known to spend a large amount of time on social media or video games (Lyons). Another article, “The Future of Children”, written by Craig A. Anderson and Soledad Liliana Escobar-Chaves, agrees with the majority of claims Lyons makes. “Despite many reports that exposure to violent media is a causal risk factor, the U.S. public remains largely unaware of these risks, and youth exposure to violent media remains extremely high” (Anderson). Lyons also claims that there is no individual type of media that proves to make a viewer more violent, which the other article also agrees with. “Furthermore, it is likely that overall media violence exposure has a somewhat larger effect than any individual type of media violence”

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According to Diane Swanbrow’s essay, “Violent Media Numbs Viewers to Pain of Others,” in recent study it was reported that violent games and movies could make people numb to the pain and suffering of others (Swanbrow 165). Indicating that, people who watch or play violent video games or movies are slower to react to help someone in need, as opposed to someone who watch or play a regular station. In another way, making them less sensitive to the pain and suffering of

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The word desensitization means (in my own words) less sensitivity. The author express this theme in this novel by telling Katniss feelings and showing her emotions. The way the author told Katniss feelings made it look like she feel this way but she doesn’t care. If you read the book and haven’t seen the movie, you will be looking at a different perspective.

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In 2013 Ki Joon Kim and S. Shyam Sundar wrote an article called “Can Interface Features Affect Aggression Resulting from Violent Video Game play an Examination of Realistic Controller and Large Screen Size” published by Behavior and Social Networking. This article talks about an experiment conducted to understand the connection between violent video games and the violent video game players. There are many different theories and experiments that can possibly explain the connection between violent video games and the players becoming violent. Kim and Sundar believed that the screen size and type of controller can related to the amount of violence a person can have while playing video games. Kim and Sundar hypothesis is that the bigger

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The problem, I think, comes with children and adolescents playing violent video games. These games have become so graphic and realistic that they are desensitizing children to blood, gore, and violent actions in general. They are also teaching individuals bad skills, along with the good skills. I don't think there is much of a problem with individuals playing non-violent video games, besides being too sedentary, but I feel that too much of the violent ones may lead to an increase in aggressive

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I myself have noticed how violent acts in the news have really no effect on me. I just sit there and basically accept the fact that society is flawed and terrible things happen. I’m not saying that the violent actions in real have no effect on me, they do, but I’m just more used to them occurring, I still feel bad for the victims, but I just feel a sort of numbness to the situations. “Brad Bushman a social psychologist at The Ohio State University conducted a study where they split up a group of children into two groups, one that would play violent video games and the other that would play nonviolent video games. At the end of playing he then would show the children two violent pictures, one of a many putting a gun in another man’s mouth and the other of a guy holding a knife to a woman’s throat.

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“…Risk factors for increased aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition and aggressive affect, and reduced pro-social behavior, empathy and moral engagement, and violent video game use is one such risk factor. "(American) This study shows that aggressive behavior is caused by violence displayed in video games. “…Drive the odds for aggression up significantly. "(American Psychological Association)

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But I see the thought as viewed from an improper angle. It is true that video games do increase aggressive behavior, but it is “not the violence aspect that creates this aggressive behavior. It is actually the inherent competitive nature within video games” (ProCon.org), as many video games have a multiplayer option in which you battle against other players. Of course natural competitive instincts kick in and it is no wonder that if one were to lose it could create aggressive behavior. It is just like with football and the different teams people cheer for, people get excited and often times aggressive if their team is losing, this exact behavior can be applied to video

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Violent video games are desensitizing kids to violence as it is just a normal thing to encounter on the games they are playing. There was a study at the U-M Institute for Social Research in which “the researchers outfitted participants with electrode caps to obtain EEG data, including the average amplitude of a particular type of brainwave, known as P300, which is believed to be an indicator of how people evaluate a stimulus, such as a photograph” (Swanbrow). The participants then looked at a neutral, violent, and negative but not violent picture. In conclusion, the researchers found that the participants that were involved in playing violent video games on daily basics

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Today, it is normal for modern technology to show many forms of violence. These acts of violence may influence children and teens to be more aggressive in everyday life. For example, I babysit a pair of twin boys. Their names are Devin and Gavin. Devin and Gavin like to play video games.

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There are many studies on media violence and its social effects. Most of the studies have indicated that children who are exposed to media violence are more likely to exhibit violent and aggressive behaviors. As the child observes the violence, he/she is motivated by the fact that the show is enjoyable without realizing the violent behaviors. As a result, they copy and identify the behavior, and this has detrimental effects on their social life. According to Boxer et al., the content of the media has a direct impact on its audiences (420).

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Impacts of watching violent scenes to Children Does TV violence have a harmful effect on children? The violent scenes has a astonishingly negative effect such as cause violent and aggressive behavior among children, and make them become panic stricken to the outside world. TV programs are not all bad; however, data shows that the negative effects of disclosure to violence are powerful. First of all, aggressive behavior among children is caused by television violence.

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When violent video games started becoming available, people started to notice an increase in the aggression. This can bring assumption in which violence in video games has a large impact on the way people behave. While unbiased students of video games and their relation to violence are hard to

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Do Video Games Promote Violence? Does virtual violence lead to actual violence? As we all know at this age of sophisticated technology and information, children are more exposed to video gaming compared to the past decades. As a result, video gaming industry has gained tremendous growth since coming into the market in the 1980s. This is because of the increased number of its consumers, especially children and teenagers.

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Some researches admit that violent games may cause adolescents to become tremendous. Studies showed that video games increase psychological awakening, it could also increase aggressive behavior, emotions and thoughts and finally let teenagers lose the sense of helping others. All these effects will be carried by aggressive young people. It’s true that video games are violent, but aggressive adolescents are more likely to be more attracted to it. Some games reward players for doing violent actions, so this will affect them negatively, letting them think that violence is normal.

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