Crime and violence: Desensitization in victims to watching criminal events

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Year: 2019
Volume: 159
Issue: C
Pages: 613-625

Authors (6)

Di Tella, Rafael (not in RePEc) Freira, Lucía (Universidad Torcuato Di Tella) Gálvez, Ramiro H. (Universidad Torcuato Di Tella) Schargrodsky, Ernesto (not in RePEc) Shalom, Diego (not in RePEc) Sigman, Mariano (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.335 = (α=2.01 / 6 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study desensitization to crime in a lab experiment by showing footage of criminal acts to a group of subjects, some of whom have been previously victimized. We measure biological markers of stress and behavioral indices of cognitive control before and after treated participants watch a series of real, crime-related videos (while the control group watches non-crime-related videos). Not previously victimized participants exposed to the treatment video show significant changes in cortisol level, heart rate, and measures of cognitive control. Instead, previously victimized individuals who are exposed to the treatment video show biological markers and cognitive performance comparable to those measured in individuals exposed to the control video. These results suggest a phenomenon of desensitization or habituation of victims to crime exposure.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jeborg:v:159:y:2019:i:c:p:613-625
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
6
Added to Database
2026-01-25