Quantifying Desensitization to Mass Shootings Through the Duration of Search Interest and Legislative Activity

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Sociology

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Mass shootings have become routine in America, with almost 100 since 2010 (Mother Jones [MJ], 2023). The sheer number of killings poses the threat of desensitizing the American public, a phenomenon known as psychic numbing. Research has focused on the initial attention spike after a mass shooting and has applied this inquiry to Congressional action. However, research on the temporal trends of public interest is lacking, and Congressional analysis has been limited by extraneous political variables. To address this deficiency, analysis of Google Trends and Congressional transcripts 30 days after the deadliest shootings since 2010 provided data on the country’s time-dependent reaction to mass shootings. Synthesis of psychological phenomena surrounding gun violence and methods to assess these phenomena prompted the question: as the frequency of mass shootings in America has persisted, how has the duration of Google search interest changed in relation to the length of legislative attention? It was hypothesized that as the frequency of mass shootings in America has increased, the length of Google search interest following each event has decreased and, accordingly, the length of legislative focus has also decreased. This hypothesis was partially supported, as monotonic, or consistent, downward movement in Google Trends data was observed in several days of analysis, and popularity values of Google Trends and Congressional transcripts were significantly correlated for many events. Contrary to the hypothesis, monotonic upward trends in some Congressional transcript data were observed. The potential desensitization may hinder legislative action and reveal the moral status of American society.

Location

RITA 277

Start Date

3-23-2024 11:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 23rd, 11:45 AM

Quantifying Desensitization to Mass Shootings Through the Duration of Search Interest and Legislative Activity

RITA 277

Mass shootings have become routine in America, with almost 100 since 2010 (Mother Jones [MJ], 2023). The sheer number of killings poses the threat of desensitizing the American public, a phenomenon known as psychic numbing. Research has focused on the initial attention spike after a mass shooting and has applied this inquiry to Congressional action. However, research on the temporal trends of public interest is lacking, and Congressional analysis has been limited by extraneous political variables. To address this deficiency, analysis of Google Trends and Congressional transcripts 30 days after the deadliest shootings since 2010 provided data on the country’s time-dependent reaction to mass shootings. Synthesis of psychological phenomena surrounding gun violence and methods to assess these phenomena prompted the question: as the frequency of mass shootings in America has persisted, how has the duration of Google search interest changed in relation to the length of legislative attention? It was hypothesized that as the frequency of mass shootings in America has increased, the length of Google search interest following each event has decreased and, accordingly, the length of legislative focus has also decreased. This hypothesis was partially supported, as monotonic, or consistent, downward movement in Google Trends data was observed in several days of analysis, and popularity values of Google Trends and Congressional transcripts were significantly correlated for many events. Contrary to the hypothesis, monotonic upward trends in some Congressional transcript data were observed. The potential desensitization may hinder legislative action and reveal the moral status of American society.