<p>Are you thinking of <em>desensitization</em>?</p>

<p>From wikipedia: In psychology, desensitization is defined as the diminished emotional responsiveness to a negative or aversive stimulus after repeated exposure to it. (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desensitization_(psychology)" rel="noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desensitization_(psychology)</a>)</p>

<p>Desensitization seems to match the question as posed in the title, but maybe not the question as posed in the text.  Desensitization occurs based on mere repetition.  In the body of the question, it seems like you're referring to repetition that takes place in the context of otherwise normal (non-negative or aversive) context, so that the once-negative subject acquires some of the normalcy of the context.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-06T19:10:09.620Z
interesting! just trying to think how this related to the mere-exposure effect mentioned in the comment
user1995
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-06T19:27:26.603Z
Mere-exposure is the gain of a preference. Desensitization is the loss of an aversion.
Syntax Junkie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-06T21:33:57.560Z
i like the way you put it, makes it much easier to compare!
user1995
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-06T18:38:34.510Z
2017-03-06T19:12:48.473Z
2017-03-06T19:12:48.473Z
Syntax Junkie
<p>I wanted to know if there was a studied concept/term for the notion that too much exposure (in terms of sensory stimulus) towards a bad idea/thing (eg. say drinking) in a normal connotation can make the idea look less bad and more normal.</p>

<p>Eg. If a person keeps getting a lot of jokes etc. on a group chat (say, Whatsapp) or in his/her Facebook feed etc. about getting drunk, and the jokes are somehow glorifying this behavior (eg. '<em>I am an introvert, but when I bring in the drinks, I attract everyone</em>' (I know, bad joke)). So getting a lot of such input toward a hazardous behavior may entice a not-so-heavy drinker to go full blast, because (s)he may start thinking that this is very normal and probably even fun. This is just an example, this can be thought for many other hazardous behaviors.  </p>

<p>So my question is that has such behavior been studied, and is this somewhat true?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-28T21:41:55.657Z
There is something similar to this, called the "mere-exposure effect", or "familiarity principle", where people come to like things by repeated exposure to them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere-exposure_effect.  Not sure if it extends to "ideas", but certainly to "things" - eg, objects, sounds, words, pictures, faces...
Arnon Weinberg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-13T07:07:44.787Z
@ArnonWeinberg that seems like an answer. I would recommend converting it to one.
Seanny123
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-13T17:30:58.297Z
@RandallStewart's answer is better.
Arnon Weinberg
<cognitive-psychology><social-psychology><perception>
Concept for 'too much exposure to a bad idea can make it seem normal'?
user1995
# Concept for 'too much exposure to a bad idea can make it seem normal'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-28)

I wanted to know if there was a studied concept/term for the notion that too much exposure (in terms of sensory stimulus) towards a bad idea/thing (eg. say drinking) in a normal connotation can make the idea look less bad and more normal.

Eg. If a person keeps getting a lot of jokes etc. on a group chat (say, Whatsapp) or in his/her Facebook feed etc. about getting drunk, and the jokes are somehow glorifying this behavior (eg. '*I am an introvert, but when I bring in the drinks, I attract everyone*' (I know, bad joke)). So getting a lot of such input toward a hazardous behavior may entice a not-so-heavy drinker to go full blast, because (s)he may start thinking that this is very normal and probably even fun. This is just an example, this can be thought for many other hazardous behaviors.

So my question is that has such behavior been studied, and is this somewhat true?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, social-psychology, perception

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There is something similar to this, called the "mere-exposure effect", or "familiarity principle", where people come to like things by repeated exposure to them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere-exposure_effect.  Not sure if it extends to "ideas", but certainly to "things" - eg, objects, sounds, words, pictures, faces...  
> **username_2**: @ArnonWeinberg that seems like an answer. I would recommend converting it to one.  
> **username_1**: @RandallStewart's answer is better.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-03-06. Score: 5

Are you thinking of *desensitization*?

From wikipedia: In psychology, desensitization is defined as the diminished emotional responsiveness to a negative or aversive stimulus after repeated exposure to it. (<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desensitization_(psychology)>)

Desensitization seems to match the question as posed in the title, but maybe not the question as posed in the text. Desensitization occurs based on mere repetition. In the body of the question, it seems like you're referring to repetition that takes place in the context of otherwise normal (non-negative or aversive) context, so that the once-negative subject acquires some of the normalcy of the context.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: interesting! just trying to think how this related to the mere-exposure effect mentioned in the comment  
> **username_3**: Mere-exposure is the gain of a preference. Desensitization is the loss of an aversion.  
> **username_0**: i like the way you put it, makes it much easier to compare!  

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