Desensitization refers to what effect from repeated exposure to violence?

• A. Only Adults Are Affected
• B. Exposure Has No Effect
• C. Repeated Exposure Causes Less Emotional Reaction to Violence
• D. Repeated Exposure Increases Emotional Reaction

Answer: (C)

Desensitization is the idea that repeated exposure to violence makes you less emotionally reactive to it over time. When people see the same violent stimuli again and again, their immediate distress and physiological arousal tend to decrease, so the violence elicits a weaker emotional response. This pattern explains why, after repeated exposure, someone might feel less shocked or distressed by violence and even become more tolerant of it.

That’s why the statement describing a diminished emotional reaction with repeated exposure is the best fit. The idea that exposure has no effect isn’t accurate, and the notion that repeated exposure increases emotional reaction is the opposite of desensitization. It’s not about adults alone being affected; desensitization can occur across different ages, though outcomes can vary.