Working Paper: NBER ID: w23697
Authors: Rafael Di Tella; Lucia Freira; Ramiro H. Gálvez; Ernesto Schargrodsky; Diego Shalom; Mariano Sigman
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.
Keywords: crime; violence; desensitization; victimization; cognitive control
JEL Codes: K42
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| desensitization among crime victims (K42) | mismatch between crime victimization and public concern over crime levels (K42) |
| non-victimized participants (C90) | changes in cortisol levels (E71) |
| non-victimized participants (C90) | changes in heart rate (E52) |
| non-victimized participants (C90) | changes in cognitive performance (D91) |
| previously victimized participants (H84) | no significant changes in cortisol levels (I12) |
| previously victimized participants (H84) | no significant changes in heart rate (Y70) |
| previously victimized participants (H84) | no significant changes in cognitive performance (D29) |