Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the enjoyment of different movie genres (i.e., thriller, horror, sports-themed, and romantic-comedy) and emotional desensitization to violent and gory stimuli. Ninety-three participants rated how much they liked the aforementioned movie genres. Next, they watched two video clips from two different horror movies (e.g., Saw X, Talk To Me, Final Destination 2, Final Destination 5, and Evil Dead Rise) for a total of seven minutes. Afterwards, participants reported their current positive and negative mood states. Results indicated that only participants who liked horror showed a reduction of fear and an increase in feelings of joy after watching violent and gory imagery. These results support the contention that viewing horror movies increases emotional desensitization.
Recommended Citation
Bowersox, Riley; Ilarraza, Ashley; and Cartwright, Peyton, "124 - Movie Preferences and Emotional Desensitization" (2025). GREAT Day Posters. 33.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2025/posters-2025/33
124 - Movie Preferences and Emotional Desensitization
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the enjoyment of different movie genres (i.e., thriller, horror, sports-themed, and romantic-comedy) and emotional desensitization to violent and gory stimuli. Ninety-three participants rated how much they liked the aforementioned movie genres. Next, they watched two video clips from two different horror movies (e.g., Saw X, Talk To Me, Final Destination 2, Final Destination 5, and Evil Dead Rise) for a total of seven minutes. Afterwards, participants reported their current positive and negative mood states. Results indicated that only participants who liked horror showed a reduction of fear and an increase in feelings of joy after watching violent and gory imagery. These results support the contention that viewing horror movies increases emotional desensitization.
Comments
Sponsored by Steven Kirsh