<form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="crime-and-violence-desensitization-in-victims-to-watching-criminal-events?item=crime-and-violence-desensitization-in-victims-to-watching-criminal-events" id="aspnetForm">
<input type="hidden" name="MSOWebPartPage_PostbackSource" id="MSOWebPartPage_PostbackSource" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_SelectedWpId" id="MSOTlPn_SelectedWpId" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_View" id="MSOTlPn_View" value="0" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_ShowSettings" id="MSOTlPn_ShowSettings" value="False" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOGallery_SelectedLibrary" id="MSOGallery_SelectedLibrary" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOGallery_FilterString" id="MSOGallery_FilterString" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_Button" id="MSOTlPn_Button" value="none" />
<input type="hidden" name="__REQUESTDIGEST" id="__REQUESTDIGEST" value="0x745AFD5ADDFD184147DBFE3416CFB4FA504F70807CEE093CAC9E7A9BD090855EB763168C39146F6866A67B062D7A2248861EEB2A8DC512B37113F1FB37ABAE3B,19 Sep 2019 09:25:22 -0000" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_DisplayModeName" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_DisplayModeName" value="Browse" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_ExitingDesignMode" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_ExitingDesignMode" value="false" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOWebPartPage_Shared" id="MSOWebPartPage_Shared" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOLayout_LayoutChanges" id="MSOLayout_LayoutChanges" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOLayout_InDesignMode" id="MSOLayout_InDesignMode" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_OldDisplayModeName" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_OldDisplayModeName" value="Browse" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_StartWebPartEditingName" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_StartWebPartEditingName" value="false" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_EndWebPartEditing" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_EndWebPartEditing" value="false" />
<input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwUBMA9kFgJmD2QWAgIBD2QWBgIBD2QWBAICD2QWAmYPFgIeBFRleHQFfENyaW1lIGFuZCBWaW9sZW5jZTogRGVzZW5zaXRpemF0aW9uIGluIFZpY3RpbXMgdG8gV2F0Y2hpbmcgQ3JpbWluYWwgRXZlbnRzIC0gSEJTIFdvcmtpbmcgS25vd2xlZGdlIC0gSGFydmFyZCBCdXNpbmVzcyBTY2hvb2xkAgMPFgIfAAWxETxtZXRhIG5hbWU9ImRlc2NyaXB0aW9uIiBjb250ZW50PSJGaW5kaW5ncyBmcm9tIGFuIGV4cGVyaW1lbnQgYnkgUmFmYWVsIERpIFRlbGxhIGFuZCBjb2xsZWFndWVzIHNob3cgdGhhdCB2aWN0aW1zIG9mIGNyaW1lcyBiZWNvbWUgZGVzZW5zaXRpemVkIHRvIHZpb2xlbmNlIGluIGJpb2xvZ2ljYWwgYW5kIGNvZ25pdGl2ZSB3YXlzLiBUaGVzZSByZXN1bHRzIG1heSBoZWxwIGV4cGxhaW4gYSB0cm91YmxpbmcgY29udHJhZGljdGlvbiBpbiBMYXRpbiBBbWVyaWNhOiByaXNpbmcgY3JpbWUgYWxvbmcgd2l0aCBkZWNyZWFzaW5nIHB1YmxpYyBjb25jZXJuIGFib3V0IGl0LiIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIG5hbWU9InR3aXR0ZXI6Y2FyZCIgY29udGVudD0ic3VtbWFyeV9sYXJnZV9pbWFnZSIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIG5hbWU9InR3aXR0ZXI6ZGVzY3JpcHRpb24iIGNvbnRlbnQ9IkZpbmRpbmdzIGZyb20gYW4gZXhwZXJpbWVudCBieSBSYWZhZWwgRGkgVGVsbGEgYW5kIGNvbGxlYWd1ZXMgc2hvdyB0aGF0IHZpY3RpbXMgb2YgY3JpbWVzIGJlY29tZSBkZXNlbnNpdGl6ZWQgdG8gdmlvbGVuY2UgaW4gYmlvbG9naWNhbCBhbmQgY29nbml0aXZlIHdheXMuIFRoZXNlIHJlc3VsdHMgbWF5IGhlbHAgZXhwbGFpbiBhIHRyb3VibGluZyBjb250cmFkaWN0aW9uIGluIExhdGluIEFtZXJpY2E6IHJpc2luZyBjcmltZSBhbG9uZyB3aXRoIGRlY3JlYXNpbmcgcHVibGljIGNvbmNlcm4gYWJvdXQgaXQuIiAvPg0KPG1ldGEgbmFtZT0idHdpdHRlcjp0aXRsZSIgY29udGVudD0iQ3JpbWUgYW5kIFZpb2xlbmNlOiBEZXNlbnNpdGl6YXRpb24gaW4gVmljdGltcyB0byBXYXRjaGluZyBDcmltaW5hbCBFdmVudHMiIC8+DQo8bWV0YSBuYW1lPSJ0d2l0dGVyOnNpdGUiIGNvbnRlbnQ9IkBIQlNXSyIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIG5hbWU9InR3aXR0ZXI6aW1hZ2UiIGNvbnRlbnQ9Imh0dHBzOi8vZDN2Z21tcmczNzdrZ2UuY2xvdWRmcm9udC5uZXQvU3R5bGUlMjBMaWJyYXJ5L2FwaS9yZXNpemUuYXNweD9pbWdwYXRoPWh0dHBzOi8vaGJzd2suaGJzLmVkdS9QdWJsaXNoaW5nSW1hZ2VzL3NvY2lhbC93ay1zb2NpYWwtZ3JhcGhpYy5qcGcmYW1wO3c9MTIwMCZhbXA7aD02MzAiIC8+DQo8bWV0YSBuYW1lPSJ0d2l0dGVyOmNyZWF0b3IiIGNvbnRlbnQ9IkBIQlNXSyIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIHByb3BlcnR5PSJvZzp1cmwiIGNvbnRlbnQ9Imh0dHA6Ly9oYnN3ay5oYnMuZWR1L2l0ZW0vY3JpbWUtYW5kLXZpb2xlbmNlLWRlc2Vuc2l0aXphdGlvbi1pbi12aWN0aW1zLXRvLXdhdGNoaW5nLWNyaW1pbmFsLWV2ZW50cyIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIHByb3BlcnR5PSJvZzp0eXBlIiBjb250ZW50PSJBcnRpY2xlIiAvPg0KPG1ldGEgcHJvcGVydHk9Im9nOnRpdGxlIiBjb250ZW50PSJDcmltZSBhbmQgVmlvbGVuY2U6IERlc2Vuc2l0aXphdGlvbiBpbiBWaWN0aW1zIHRvIFdhdGNoaW5nIENyaW1pbmFsIEV2ZW50cyIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIHByb3BlcnR5PSJvZzpkZXNjcmlwdGlvbiIgY29udGVudD0iRmluZGluZ3MgZnJvbSBhbiBleHBlcmltZW50IGJ5IFJhZmFlbCBEaSBUZWxsYSBhbmQgY29sbGVhZ3VlcyBzaG93IHRoYXQgdmljdGltcyBvZiBjcmltZXMgYmVjb21lIGRlc2Vuc2l0aXplZCB0byB2aW9sZW5jZSBpbiBiaW9sb2dpY2FsIGFuZCBjb2duaXRpdmUgd2F5cy4gVGhlc2UgcmVzdWx0cyBtYXkgaGVscCBleHBsYWluIGEgdHJvdWJsaW5nIGNvbnRyYWRpY3Rpb24gaW4gTGF0aW4gQW1lcmljYTogcmlzaW5nIGNyaW1lIGFsb25nIHdpdGggZGVjcmVhc2luZyBwdWJsaWMgY29uY2VybiBhYm91dCBpdC4iIC8+DQo8bWV0YSBwcm9wZXJ0eT0ib2c6c2l0ZV9uYW1lIiBjb250ZW50PSJIQlMgV29ya2luZyBLbm93bGVkZ2UiIC8+DQo8bWV0YSBwcm9wZXJ0eT0ib2c6aW1hZ2UiIGNvbnRlbnQ9Imh0dHBzOi8vZDN2Z21tcmczNzdrZ2UuY2xvdWRmcm9udC5uZXQvU3R5bGUlMjBMaWJyYXJ5L2FwaS9yZXNpemUuYXNweD9pbWdwYXRoPWh0dHBzOi8vaGJzd2suaGJzLmVkdS9QdWJsaXNoaW5nSW1hZ2VzL3NvY2lhbC93ay1zb2NpYWwtZ3JhcGhpYy5qcGcmYW1wO3c9MTIwMCZhbXA7aD02MzAiIC8+DQo8bWV0YSBwcm9wZXJ0eT0ib2c6aW1hZ2U6d2lkdGgiIGNvbnRlbnQ9IjEyMDAiIC8+DQo8bWV0YSBwcm9wZXJ0eT0ib2c6aW1hZ2U6aGVpZ2h0IiBjb250ZW50PSI2MzAiIC8+DQo8bWV0YSBwcm9wZXJ0eT0iYXJ0aWNsZTpwdWJsaXNoZWRfdGltZSIgY29udGVudD0iMTEgT2N0IDIwMTciIC8+ZAITDw8WAh4HVmlzaWJsZWhkZAIXD2QWAgIBD2QWAmYPZBYCAgMPZBYCAgUPDxYEHgZIZWlnaHQbAAAAAAAAeUABAAAAHgRfIVNCAoABZBYCAgEPPCsACQEADxYEHg1QYXRoU2VwYXJhdG9yBAgeDU5ldmVyRXhwYW5kZWRnZGRkCAAaYvJhhd1oUdih/nAXBuvg/rU=" />

<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var MSOWebPartPageFormName = 'aspnetForm';
var g_presenceEnabled = true;var _fV4UI=true;var _spPageContextInfo = {webServerRelativeUrl: "\u002f", webLanguage: 1033, currentLanguage: 1033, webUIVersion:4,pageListId:"{229a3fa1-d23f-4194-af04-83f712f16168}",pageItemId:24, alertsEnabled:true, siteServerRelativeUrl: "\u002f", allowSilverlightPrompt:'True'};//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/_layouts/1033/init.js?rev=0OHTJmtljdkrRniX3Vao7A%3D%3D"></script>
<script src="/WebResource.axd?d=KzYTxvKcuTEp7j51joTea5GVr92AuJ4SL5aQ9QUnLuUrG7rTi8YCbgNYedMwdv6fDwv5Ou7X64HliGCav7hiwmuBylh2hjGhv6JU0lkokc63lAPUBD0MIaMGwGty9ueA82idlgs7ktVQj8-X5TCDW8nNPkA1&t=636767462854137053" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var dlc_fvsi = {"DefaultViews":[],"ViewUrls":[],"WebUrl":"\/"};//]]>
</script>

<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
function _spNavigateHierarchy(nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type) {
    CoreInvoke('ProcessDefaultNavigateHierarchy', nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type, document.forms.aspnetForm, "", "\u002fitem\u002fcrime-and-violence-desensitization-in-victims-to-watching-criminal-events");

}
//]]>
</script>
<input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" id="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" value="7BAFC84E" />
<script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.core.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.core.js?rev=7ByNlH\u00252BvcgRJg\u00252BRCctdC0w\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.res.resx", "\u002f_layouts\u002fScriptResx.ashx?culture=en\u00252Dus\u0026name=SP\u00252ERes\u0026rev=b6\u00252FcRx1a6orhAQ\u00252FcF\u00252B0ytQ\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.ui.dialog.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.ui.dialog.js?rev=Tpcmo1\u00252FSu6R0yewHowDl5g\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("sp.ui.dialog.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.ui.dialog.js", "sp.res.resx");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("core.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002f1033\u002fcore.js?rev=Emb5hNX1RZMNXk9oS82yvA\u00253D\u00253D");</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var _spFormDigestRefreshInterval = 1440000;window.g_updateFormDigestPageLoaded = new Date(); window.g_updateFormDigestPageLoaded.setDate(window.g_updateFormDigestPageLoaded.getDate() -5);function loadMDN2() { EnsureScript('MDN.js', typeof(loadFilterFn), null); }
function loadMDN1() { ExecuteOrDelayUntilScriptLoaded(loadMDN2, 'sp.ribbon.js'); }
_spBodyOnLoadFunctionNames.push('loadMDN1');//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.runtime.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.runtime.js?rev=IGffcZfunndj0247nOxKVg\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("sp.runtime.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.runtime.js", "sp.res.resx");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.js?rev=\u00252B4ZEyA892P3T0504qi0paw\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.runtime.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.ui.dialog.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.res.resx");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("cui.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fcui.js?rev=OOyJv78CADNBeet\u00252FvTvniQ\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("inplview", "\u002f_layouts\u002finplview.js?rev=WB6Gy8a027aeNCq7koVCUg\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("inplview", "core.js");RegisterSodDep("inplview", "sp.js");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("ribbon", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.ribbon.js?rev=F\u00252BUEJ66rbXzSvpf7nN69wQ\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "core.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "cui.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.res.resx");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.runtime.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "inplview");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.ui.policy.resources.resx", "\u002f_layouts\u002fScriptResx.ashx?culture=en\u00252Dus\u0026name=SP\u00252EUI\u00252EPolicy\u00252EResources\u0026rev=YhBHGmUAGyJ3lAgSdE4V\u00252Fw\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("mdn.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fmdn.js?rev=gwmFFJ2\u00252FfFacqXWAqG\u00252FqKg\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.runtime.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "cui.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "ribbon");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.ui.policy.resources.resx");</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[

function _spNavigateHierarchyEx(nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type, additionalQString) {
    SetAdditionalNavigateHierarchyQString(additionalQString);
    g_originalSPNavigateFunc(nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type);
}

g_originalSPNavigateFunc = _spNavigateHierarchy;
_spNavigateHierarchy = _spNavigateHierarchyEx;
var _fV4UI = true;//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("msstring.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002f1033\u002fmsstring.js?rev=QtiIcPH3HV7LgVSO7vONFg\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("browserScript", "\u002f_layouts\u002f1033\u002fnon_ie.js?rev=EVTj1bu32\u00252FMla6SDN\u00252FsNTA\u00253D\u00253D");</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var __wpmExportWarning='This Web Part Page has been personalized. As a result, one or more Web Part properties may contain confidential information. Make sure the properties contain information that is safe for others to read. After exporting this Web Part, view properties in the Web Part description file (.WebPart) by using a text editor such as Microsoft Notepad.';var __wpmCloseProviderWarning='You are about to close this Web Part.  It is currently providing data to other Web Parts, and these connections will be deleted if this Web Part is closed.  To close this Web Part, click OK.  To keep this Web Part, click Cancel.';var __wpmDeleteWarning='You are about to permanently delete this Web Part.  Are you sure you want to do this?  To delete this Web Part, click OK.  To keep this Web Part, click Cancel.';//]]>
</script>
</form>

Skip to Main Content

11 Oct 2017Working Paper Summaries

Crime and Violence: Desensitization in Victims to Watching Criminal Events

by Rafael Di Tella, Lucia Freira, Ramiro H. Gálvez, Ernesto Schargrodsky, Diego Shalom, and Mariano Sigman

Findings from an experiment show that victims of crimes become desensitized to violence in biological and cognitive ways. These results may help explain a troubling contradiction in Latin America: rising crime along with decreasing public concern about it. As the rate of crime victimization increases, a larger group of the population shares this increased desensitization.

Author 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.

Paper Information

Full Working Paper Text
Working Paper Publication Date: August 2017
HBS Working Paper Number: NBER Working Paper Series, No. 23697
Faculty Unit(s): Business, Government and International Economy

Trending

- 18 Sep 2019
- Op-Ed
WeWork—The IPO That Shouldn’t?
- 17 Sep 2019
- Cold Call Podcast
How a New Leader Broke Through a Culture of Accuse, Blame, and Criticize
- 16 Sep 2019
- Research & Ideas
Crowdsourcing Is Helping Hollywood Reduce the Risk of Movie-Making
- 07 Jul 2019
- HBS Case
Walmart's Workforce of the Future
- 16 Jul 2018
- Research & Ideas
Kids of Working Moms Grow into Happy Adults

Rafael M. Di Tella

Rafael M. Di Tella

William Ziegler Professor of Business Administration

Contact

→ More Articles

Find Related Articles

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Interested in improving your business? Learn about fresh research and ideas from Harvard Business School faculty.