The Desensitization Effect of Passive Viewing vs. Active Interaction with Violent Video Game
Laura Harstad & Eeva Kivisto
University of Wisconsin-Stout–
Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie,
Menomonie WI
Advisor: Dr. Richard Tafalla
INTRODUCTION:
It is believed that exposure to entertainment violence may alter cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes, possibly leading to desensitization
OUR GOAL:
To assess and compare the desensitization effect of passively viewing and actively playing a violent video game using the physiological measure of ERP
Initial Responses to
Pictures
Video Game Condition
(Passive or Active)
Participants
actively played or
passively viewed
Call of Duty 4 on
Xbox 360 for 30
minutes
Physiological
Measures taken
during pictures:
• EOG
• ERP (site CPz)
Results:
Active Group
•
PRE
‐3
‐2
‐1
•
0
1
-----HYPOTHESIS----Exposure to violent video games
games,
whether actively playing or passively
viewing, will decrease ERP response
Active condition will have lower ERP
response than Passive condition
2
Results:
Passive Group
Neutral
Negative
g
PRE
‐3
‐2
‐1
0
1
2
3
4
5
•
6
0.015
0.515
1.015
1.515
POST
‐6
•
‐4
‐2
0
•
2
4
6
8
‐0.485
Viewed
pictures from
IAPS database
•40 negative
•40 neutral
Predictions & Conclusions
Neutral
Negative
‐0.485
Responses to Pictures Following
Video Game
0.015
0.515
1.015
1.515
-----CONCLUSIONS----The results support the first hypothesis
hypothesis.
Both active and passive participants had
lowered ERP response to video game
exposure
However, no difference was observed
between active and passive conditions
Contrary to our original prediction, it
appears that it may be the emotional
involvement rather than the behavioral
involvement that leads to desensitization
effects
For more information, contact:
Laura Harstad
harstadl@uwstout.edu
3
4
5
6
‐0.485
0.015
0.515
1.015
1.515
0.015
0.515
1.015
1.515
POST
‐4
‐2
0
2
4
6
8
‐0.485