Lesson: Are We Desensitized?

Are we desensitized? A constant barrage of violence in the news and media bombards us daily. American mass shootings, Ukraine war footage, and human suffering in Israel and Gaza are numbing our emotional response. Do you think constant exposure to these things might be breeding desensitization? Psychologists suggest repeated exposure to violence lessens our emotional arousal. The shock of a single violent event diminishes with each subsequent one. We may scroll past disturbing headlines with no reaction at all. This desensitization can have negative consequences. We might become less empathetic towards victims, their suffering reduced to another news cycle. Furthermore, a culture where violence is commonplace could decrease outrage and a sense of helplessness, hindering efforts to create positive change. While we cannot turn a blind eye, we must also be mindful of our media consumption. There are some steps we can take to ensure we do not over or underreact to the violence we are exposed to through media.