desensitization

[ dee-sen-si-tuh-zey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of desensitizing.
2. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. the elimination or reduction of natural or acquired reactivity or sensitivity to an external stimulus, as an allergen.
3. Psychiatry. a behavior modification technique, used especially in treating phobias, in which panic or other undesirable emotional response to a given stimulus is reduced or extinguished, especially by repeated exposure to that stimulus.

Word History and Origins

Origin of desensitization¹

First recorded in 1920–25; desensitize + -ation

Example Sentences

As Kady Ruth Ashcraft opined for Jezebel in 2022, "While the true crime genre has rightly received its fair share of criticism for transforming gruesome crimes into entertainment at the expense of the well-being of survivors, people announcing they are 'unbothered' by Dahmer’s crimes feels like a new level of desensitization."

From Salon

Now, with Hunnam — another blatantly attractive lead actor — set to helm a performance about Gein, we can only assume that a similar pattern of social media desensitization will ensue.

From Salon

The “Therapy Dog Team” has been on duty since late February following months of preparation and intensive training, learning desensitization to distracting stimuli, like sounds and people.

From Seattle Times

Despite the fact that different forms of immunotherapy or allergen desensitization have shown promising results, the most effective strategy for avoiding allergic reactions is still to refrain from eating foods that may contain allergens.

From Salon

But oral immunotherapy itself can trigger allergic responses, desensitization to allergens can take months or years, and the process is especially lengthy for people with several food allergies, as they are usually treated for one allergy at a time.

From Science Daily