What it really means to be desensitized to
violence
violence
In today’s society, violence is apparent everywhere. In the news, in video games, the latest action and horror movies, books, and in the everyday discussions about what’s going on in the world. Children run around with plastic guns and pretend to stab their playmates with foam swords.
There is a common belief that the current adolescent generation has been desensitized to violence.
To desensitize is defined as to “make [someone] less likely to feel shock or distress at scenes of cruelty, violence, or suffering by overexposure to such images.”
It is believed this has occurred through the violent video games, toys, and movies that are popular in today's society.
Along with this belief is the assumption that with this desensitization comes a proneness to
violent acts.
Junior Michael Morris said, “Despite what they see in media, I think most people still understand the consequences of violent acts, and are unlikely to commit them.”
There is a particular concern about the effects of violent video games. According to Healthday News, violence in video games is more engaging than on TV, because users are actively aggressive.
In an experiment conducted by Gamepolitics.com, it was concluded that factor does not increase proneness to violence.
Leading the study was Psychology Ph.D. Holly Bowen, who stated that, "The findings indicate that long-term emotional memory is not affected by chronic exposure to violent video games."
Sophomore Alec Tung said, “I play video games almost everyday and generally I’m not a very violent person.”
Despite this evidence, there are still concerns about violence in media and entertainment.
History teacher Greg Schoenstein believes that the current generation is more desensitized to violence than previous ones.
“There’s always been horror movies, and TV has become more violent. Starting in the 90’s there was more graphically violent media and games available. In today’s world, it’s easier for young people to get access to that stuff that other generations didn’t have access to, and therefore are a little bit more desensitized. Media in the past self regulated more, and those standards have loosened up,” said Schoenstein.
Students who play violent video games and are regularly exposed to violence through media have mixed opinions on this evaluation.
Junior Kian Mozayani disagreed that exposure to violence causes desensitization. He believes most individuals can distinguish the difference between shooting someone in a virtual game and killing someone in the real world. Therefore the two are unrelated.
“If you grow up in a family that shows you the difference between real life and a game then I don’t think video games and TV desensitize you,” said Mozayani.
According to Pew Research Center, approximately 72 percent of teenagers in America play video games through some device or console.
“I think just by being repeatedly exposed to the violence in media and entertainment, the shock value is reduced, and you become more comfortable and tolerant of the nature of what is being shown,” said Schoenstein.
Currently there is no clear conclusion of whether or not media actually desensitizes viewers to violence.
Regardlessly, it has been statistically proven by Paediatrics and Child Health that the amount of violence shown on television is on the rise.
There is a common belief that the current adolescent generation has been desensitized to violence.
To desensitize is defined as to “make [someone] less likely to feel shock or distress at scenes of cruelty, violence, or suffering by overexposure to such images.”
It is believed this has occurred through the violent video games, toys, and movies that are popular in today's society.
Along with this belief is the assumption that with this desensitization comes a proneness to
violent acts.
Junior Michael Morris said, “Despite what they see in media, I think most people still understand the consequences of violent acts, and are unlikely to commit them.”
There is a particular concern about the effects of violent video games. According to Healthday News, violence in video games is more engaging than on TV, because users are actively aggressive.
In an experiment conducted by Gamepolitics.com, it was concluded that factor does not increase proneness to violence.
Leading the study was Psychology Ph.D. Holly Bowen, who stated that, "The findings indicate that long-term emotional memory is not affected by chronic exposure to violent video games."
Sophomore Alec Tung said, “I play video games almost everyday and generally I’m not a very violent person.”
Despite this evidence, there are still concerns about violence in media and entertainment.
History teacher Greg Schoenstein believes that the current generation is more desensitized to violence than previous ones.
“There’s always been horror movies, and TV has become more violent. Starting in the 90’s there was more graphically violent media and games available. In today’s world, it’s easier for young people to get access to that stuff that other generations didn’t have access to, and therefore are a little bit more desensitized. Media in the past self regulated more, and those standards have loosened up,” said Schoenstein.
Students who play violent video games and are regularly exposed to violence through media have mixed opinions on this evaluation.
Junior Kian Mozayani disagreed that exposure to violence causes desensitization. He believes most individuals can distinguish the difference between shooting someone in a virtual game and killing someone in the real world. Therefore the two are unrelated.
“If you grow up in a family that shows you the difference between real life and a game then I don’t think video games and TV desensitize you,” said Mozayani.
According to Pew Research Center, approximately 72 percent of teenagers in America play video games through some device or console.
“I think just by being repeatedly exposed to the violence in media and entertainment, the shock value is reduced, and you become more comfortable and tolerant of the nature of what is being shown,” said Schoenstein.
Currently there is no clear conclusion of whether or not media actually desensitizes viewers to violence.
Regardlessly, it has been statistically proven by Paediatrics and Child Health that the amount of violence shown on television is on the rise.