Disengaged, or Desensitized?

Reported By: Kate Mack

Illustrated By: Addie Patterson

The desensitization of millennials and Gen Z has become a common occurrence on social media and pop culture. However, is this true and is there scientific evidence showing desensitization of these younger generations? If so, what does that mean for us now? 

Sue O’Donnell, professor of Psychology at George Fox University (GFU), can answer some of these questions. As a specialist in adolescent development, O’Donnell sheds light on the subjects of parenting and genetics and their role in the topic of desensitization. The effects of parenting and genetics have an extremely important role to play in the responses people have to violence. O’Donnell explained that genetics are much more complicated than people originally assumed. “Genetics and environment have a role to play in introversion and extroversion, this isn’t something that we can pick and choose, it's in us,” said O’Donnell. 

Genetics also have a role to play in aggression, but O’Donnell explained that empathy has a role to play as well, especially in children. If a child is more empathetic, they may have stronger reactions to certain situations; the same can also be said in reverse for those with less empathy. 

O’Donnell also brought up the ideas of parenting and how it affects children, especially considering how much social media has impacted parenting. O’Donnell used the example of a “helicopter” parent. This type of parenting style may create a child who is codependent on the parent, and statistics published by the National Institutes of Health show that those children may leave the house and get married later than those who did not have “helicopter” parents. However, children who have more independence or “grit” may respond oppositely, feeling the need to prove their abilities away from the shelter of their parents.

Some claim that due to social media, people do not react as they should or normally would because they are used to seeing violence from a source that does not allow empathy to develop properly. O’Donnell explained that this could possibly be a factor. Using the example of school shootings, O’Donnell explained that five years ago, the response to shootings was huge, however, now that they have become more widespread, people do not respond to the news about shootings as they used to. Social media expands people’s view of what is happening in the world, and this extreme and constant exposure to televised atrocities could explain the different responses between generations when it comes to violence. 

However, there is no easy answer to the question of desensitization. The factors that play into emotional and physical responses are much deeper than we know and it will take quite a lot of research to explain the genetics, parenting, and social media impacts that they have on people. 

Each person is genetically and psychologically different, and this will impact their worldview, and more specifically, their reactions regarding violence. While the issue of desensitization is not officially put to rest, it is something that is still being researched, discussed, and debated.