The Normalization Effect

As I delve further into this topic of the role that desensitization plays in society, I am uncovering other elements that seem to be intrinsically linked to the issue. At first I noticed that this idea of desensitization seemed to go hand in hand with a significant loss of empathy. The process of desensitizing indicates that a certain emotional response has been has been reduced or possibly even extinguished, and so I came to decide that empathy was the diminishing emotional response that I wanted to focus on. As I continued my research, I came across studies that highlighted not only the decrease in empathy, but also the increase in narcissism. I began to understand that desensitization may not simply be the loss of something positive, but may also be directly responsible for the creation of something negative.

After spending a significant amount of time investigating the effects of my chosen issue, I began to wonder more about why these effects are happening in the first place. What is allowing for desensitization to occur at all? More research led me to find that desensitization is heavily linked to the idea of normalization. Over exposure to the stories of hate, money, and power that are perpetuated  by the media, enable such stories to become the social norm. This means that each time we hear about tragic and despairing events like drowning refugees or gun violence in schools, we become a little less startled by their occurrence. As we become less concerned through desensitization, we become accustomed to such stories through normalization (Foss, 2018).

When things become a part of our social norm, we become more complacent in terms of taking action, even if what is now normal was once considered upsetting to us. Ive come to believe that the volume of negativity is not the only factor contributing to this desensitization/normalization. In 2019, when we consume news it is usually through a screen, whether that be the screen of a cell phone, tablet, computer, or television. This use of technology is part of what is currently considered to be the social norm and I feel as though communicating starling information through normalized means can in turn have the same effect on that information. Another negative element of the devices we have become so reliant on, is that their screens create a barrier between us and the events we reading about or watching videos of (Foss, 2018).

The delivery of catastrophic news through means that are so common place in our everyday lives results in what I can only think to describe as complacency. I know for me personally my phone, computer, and television serve multiple purposes. In my opinion, I feel that it sometimes becomes difficult to grasp the reality of some of the news we receive, as our devices can often cause fact to seem like far-removed fiction.


As I beginning to think more about the order and arrangement of my TED Talk presentation, I am trying to find ways to introduce some of these big ideas that have applications on a global scale (i.e. the school gun violence reference) in a smaller and more relatable. I am considering approaching the desensitization and normalization relationship through concrete examples that will hopefully connect with the lives of students like myself and my classmates. One simple example that I think will hopefully be effective in communicating my point is a beginner guitar player. When one first begins to play a string instrument like a guitar, it can hurt a little to press on the strings. Yet, as the that individual plays more, they will develop calluses on their fingers and playing won't hurt anymore. The loss of this feeling will come to seem normal, as the build up of calluses have made playing the guitar more comfortable.

Citations:

Foss, S. (2018, October 4). Normalizing negative news isn’t inherently bad. Retrieved from The Peak 
website: https://the-peak.ca/2018/10/normalizing-negative-news-isnt-inherently-bad/