Does violence in movies and video games desensitize us

[Gerald]

to the real thing? Media can have a real emotional impact on us. If they didn't, we wouldn't have entertainment in the first place -- anything you put in front of us would be greeted with waves of indifference. Instead, we cry at sad movies, laugh at outrageous comedies and pump our fist whenever Bruce Willis makes something explode. What we see in films and video games invokes a physical response.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/violence-desensitize.htm

[STEED]

I think maybe yes but it comes down to the mind set of the individual, I for one do not watch slam bang thank you mame all out shoot them up and blow them up films as there is no acting or storyline involved.

[antikristuseke]

If I ever see anyone pumping their fist in a cinema I'm going to shoot the bastard.

[Skybird]

Exposure to any kind of overstimulation desensitizes us. Think of it as the dark side of natural adaptation. You get used to things, and what rang your bells before, does not do that anymore if it rang them too often. Violence in media (fiction and news), certainly is no exception from the rule.

You can also develope a craving to stimulations that give you a kick. It's then called an addiction.

[SteamWake]

If I ever see anyone pumping their fist in a cinema I'm going to shoot the bastard.

See? ... proof right there :haha:

[krashkart]

I dunno about being desensitized by games or movies/TV shows (TV around here has some really bloody shows on these days; bloodier than some movies :shifty:). Maybe we are being desensitized to some degree.

[TLAM Strike]

Just going by Homicide rates we are not that bad we are number 43 in the world

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate#200 0s

How many violent video games and movies in El Salvador and Honduras? :hmmm:

[Dimitrius07]

to the real thing? Media can have a real emotional impact on us. If they didn't, we wouldn't have entertainment in the first place -- anything you put in front of us would be greeted with waves of indifference. Instead, we cry at sad movies, laugh at outrageous comedies and pump our fist whenever Bruce Willis makes something explode. What we see in films and video games invokes a physical response.


In most cases the violence is invokes due to not proper education methods done by Liberal system or by radical religious beliefs. If we put aside religious issue, what we get is a child who can`t handle negative responses, such as a word "NO". This is a one of reasons. The radical religious metods teach to be violent so there is no point to discuss, pretty much self explanatory. Speaking about video games and violents is all comes down to a basic lack of understanding the word "NO".
IMHO

[Gerald]

Most people are probably well-initiated in some games affect reputation, both positive and negative ways, and that includes not only young people but also adults, as reflected in our environment as long ago to go back

[Torvald Von Mansee]

*stops scrubbing gore off his wall*

No.

*resumes scrubbing gore off his wall*

[SteamWake]

*stops scrubbing gore off his wall*

No.

*resumes scrubbing gore off his wall*

Geeze what did Al do to you? :haha:

[JokerOfFate]

No, trust me on this if you watch a lot of movies and play war games nothing will change your reaction.

I did that and when I went into the real thing it hit me, "I'm gona ****ing die!". Thats why I love, and will never forget, are "Mentor" at training the guy who knock every bit of boy out and filled it with concrete :cool:

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Geeze what did Al do to you? :haha:

*stops sharpening meat cleaver on rotating whetstone*

Whatever are you talking about?

*resumes sharpening meat cleaver*

[Castout]

Umm No imo.

People may find it hard to empathize with a tragic scene on news television depending on the severity of the violence and the viewer sense of closeness or relatedness to the environment culturally, geographically, socially or religiously. But this doesn't mean violent scene on news will desensitize the viewer at all.

Now having said that on the real thing the desensitizing effect is almost nonexistent in fictitious scenes in movies and video games. The viewer of such violent scenes in video games and fictitious movies are WELL AWARE that they are watching a FILM or fictitious scene. Most people would even empathize with such scenes even when they're fictitious if they are made seemingly realistic enough.

The thing is I believe our brain is wired such that empathy is always a sincere response over something bad FELT and IMMEDIATE or familiar or related. This means it cannot be made up. If people are insensitive to real violence shown on news tv or even real life, most probably he is that way not because he's overloaded with violent scenes on games and fictitious movies.

The more worrying effect in my opinion is watching pornography because sex acts in pornography are not simulated but are real. If people are not equipped with self restraint and embedded values he may become a pervert at the very least that is not knowing the difference between fantasy or reality. Not to mention the addiction which is why I don't store them. Watch and erase.

The only thing that will desensitize a person empathy is by subjecting him or her to prolong and repeated abuse, more effectively from close person without help from anybody else.
THAT'S THE METHOD PSYCHOPATHS use to spread their defective traits. Not by genes but with abuses, psychological and physical(verbal insults, insulting behaviors, contempt, hostility, hate, persecution, etc)

[Penguin]

I think real life violence does more in terms of desensitizing than fictional violence.
If I remember correctly most atrocities in the history of mankind were committed before computer games or violent movies existed - and before a liberal education system was there either. :03:

[Ducimus]

Does violence in movies and video games desensitize us?

I don't think so. Seeing pictures and seeing the real thing are two very different things.

On a side note, I think people from ancient times were more desensitized to violence then we in modern times because it was more prevalant and part of life then it is now. I'll bet people in the past could stomach and tolerate much more then we can now. If anything, we have a hard time accepting reality in it's most brutal forms.

[the_tyrant]

its a good thing right?
being sensitive is bad
i bed we call it premature ejaculation
in our subs we call it premature detonation

[JU_88]

Imho It really depends on the indervidual.

Ive run over innocent peds in GTA 4 and laughed my ass off like psychopath.
Ive even deliberately backed over them if they survived.

Ive also seen real car plough in to a real a 19 year old girl at about 40 mph and frozen in horror! (then called an ambulance)
-lucklily she got away with minor lacerations and a broken color bone and I spent of the rest of the night pretty shaken up.

So no, I personally i have no problem separating the two. but I can't speak for anyone else.

In a movie - an actor/actress got paid
In a game - the geometry didnt feel a thing.
Yes it can be a very realistic representation of something horrific - but
its still 'only a representation'

[The Third Man]

In general I think it depends on the individual. But the violence portrayed in cinema and vid games is so mild compaired to the real violence done it is possible and highly likely that most people don't have any idea just how gruesome the after math of violence can be.

You need to ask those who are first responders to motorcycle accidents, aircraft crashes, battlefield firefights, etc. The stories will shock most of the uninitiated. It is a bloody mess.

EG a 7.62x39 mm round can take a man's leg off.

[Gerald]

Generally speaking, it's probably in a certain group of people who are avoidable one second, so the effect of games and movies then plays the role.

[The Third Man]

I don't think so. Seeing pictures and seeing the real thing are two very different things.

On a side note, I think people from ancient times were more desensitized to violence then we in modern times because it was more prevalant and part of life then it is now. I'll bet people in the past could stomach and tolerate much more then we can now. If anything, we have a hard time accepting reality in it's most brutal forms.

I think you correct. Today we are so far removed from the life and death struggles which occured, and in some cases continue to occur, before the industrial revolution even our pop culture cannot accurately portray the reality.