Video gaming is one of the most studied technologies with regard to empathy. Because there have been longstanding concerns about the impact of violent video games on youth, much research has been conducted over the last couple of decades on the topic. While measuring and documenting the impact of video game violence, scientists have formulated credible explanations of how video gaming could affect empathy. Part of a normal, healthy reaction to witnessing violent events is to feel negative emotions, and to experience physiological arousal that is connected to fear or disgust. With repeated exposure to violent events ─ such as what might happen when a person plays violent video games ─ this normal reaction might become blunted, a phenomenon known as desensitization. The next step in this problematic process would be having diminished emotional responses to violence, which could also interfere with the ability to recognize and/or to sympathize with others, leading to reduced empathy. A significant body of work shows an association between extensive violent video gaming and reduced empathy in people.