DesensitisationTheory

This theory states that the longer people are exposed to violence, horror or any other shocking material (e.g. sex), we eventually become less sensitive to it and therefore it is less effective.

What is it?

Example – Mad World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7elIuEACmkQ

• Many horrors involve gruesome death scenes that would have scared many people in the early 20th century. As the years went on, horror films were made around violence rather than focusing on things that made horror movies frightening. E.g., the atmosphere, the unknown. However because we’ve seen so much of this, horror films may not shock us.

How does this apply to horror?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Biwk5x5Bkn0

• The debate is after seeing many violent things will people be desensitised to real life violence?

• It is arguable that if someone was going to witness a murder in a horror film and then came out and seen the same thing happen on the street, will they actually be desensitised to it.

Debate!

• CHILDREN

• Youths watch horror all the time. The majority soon become immune the horror of violence and the fear factor to it.

• This causes problems because they then accept violence as way to solve problems, imitate and identify with characters they see on TV.

Problems?