Desensitization is a psychological process that has often been involved in explaining viewers' emotional reactions to media violence. Research on emotional reactions to violent messages has been concerned with the possibility that continued exposure to violence in the mass media will result in desensitization, that is, that exposure to media violence will undermine feelings of concern, empathy, or sympathy that viewers might have toward victims of actual violence.


There seems to be a growing trend among the young and disillusioned: the deadening of an ability to feel- to empathize with others and to know how to react appropriately to emotional distress. Label it as Autism, ADHD or Antisocial personality disorder- but the drugs still aren't working.

I find it interesting that it is currently "in vogue" among young people to be "broken"- to harm themselves and others, to starve and desensitize themselves in order to keep from being hurt. This goes beyond teen angst. I know quite a few people on these forums that can, at some level, understand the desire to constantly place oneself in danger just to feel alive.

Honestly, it almost scares me that nothing scares me anymore, if that makes any sense.

I feel like i'm just barely aware of what i'm missing, but it's enough to make me constantly wonder how i could get it back.

thoughts?

since the beginning of war, a curse common to many soldiers returning home has been the difficulty of reintegrating with family, friends and general society. the experience of warfare causes disorders with symptoms common to desensitization and dehumanization, and only the soldiers with very advanced self-discipline and healthy emotion-processing habits have demonstrated resilience against it.

i feel the basic human condition, minus external influences, contains strong characteristics of self-interest, empathy, sympathy and general affect. to function in war requires the psyche to bolster its defenses against the negative feelings and dissonance resulting from self-preservation instinct, sympathy/empathy, etc. creating paths around these, and different methods of processing, are common ways for the psyche to adapt, allowing the soldier to function in the environment of warfare. soldiers unable to create these alternate processes often suffer breakdowns.

these habits stay with the soldier upon return to civilian life, generating all kinds of difficulties in reintegration.

in my own experience, a combination of a difficult childhood and my choice of career left me in a place of distant detachment. i recognize this state as a defense mechanism and a result of habituation, but am having a hard time undoing it -- though i deeply desire to, proof that the fire is still smoldering within. over time i've made progress, and hope i will continue to do so. i have a very hard time feeling 'alive', but have gotten much better at experiencing sympathy/empathy.

one thing that has helped is forcing myself to spend more time with family & friends, spend more time volunteering, and act out the healthy behavior i know i should exhibit. choosing to do these things begins as a concept without much emotional content, but as i participate in these situations i find my emotions coming alive -- and i feel alive.

as regards your average teenager growing up in the world today... i believe there are a few things going on, i'll name some big ones:

1. a culture of entitlement has habituated very strong self-interest behavior in adolescents
2. an avalanche of information has caused the psyche to create filters to exclude information not related to self-interest
3. exposure to daily images/stories/events of human suffering has made suffering seem commonplace and therefore of little consequence
4. a disproportionate exposure to the concept of suffering has caused the psyche to become resilient to the suffering of others
5. the increasing complexity of society has resulted in increasing levels of psychological stress, and new psychological stressors
5b. as a result of higher levels of psychosocial stress and stressors, family/social life has become more stressful and pathologies are more common as an output
6. perhaps all of the above are simply the texture of the human experience in a complex, information-driven global society

thoughts? this is an area i certainly want to know more about. in the PhD program i'm beginning, my focus is going to be the psychological stresses and pathologies unique to globalization and acculturation. somewhat related to this topic, i suppose.