negative effects of media ( Desensitisation, Disinhibition & cognitive priming )

how to set out a 16 marker

• outline

• this doesn’t take into account the other

• outline

• this doesn’t take into account the other

  • they both dont take into account the 3rd

strength - real life application ( can apply to all )

• desensitisation has influenced media policies leading to stricter age restrictions on films and TV shows

• this reduces exposure to violent and aggressive media in children preventing habituation

  • suggesting that interventions could reduce aggressive behaviour by reduce exposure in young people

limitation - contradictory evidence ( catharsis )

• catharsis says that aggressive media is a good and safe outlet for aggression impulses

• this is said to reduce aggression

• this contradicts desensitisation as this says that media increases aggression

  • this suggests that we should not just use desensitisation to explain aggression it is also important to see that media can also have positive effects

strength of disinhibition - explains cartoon violence

• children do not learn specific aggressive behaviours from cartoon models

• they learn that aggression is acceptable ( socially normative )

• especially if it goes unpunished

  • therefore disinhibition explains how cartoon violence can lead to aggression in those who observe it

limitation of cognitive priming - confouding variables

• violent video games tend to be more complex in gameplay than non-violent games, so complexity is a confounding variable

• Zendle et al found that when complexity was controlled, the priming effects of violent video games disappeared

  • therefore, supportive findings of studies into priming may be partly due to confoudning variables