The doctrine held by Condillac, and by some ascribed to Locke, that our ideas originate solely in sensation, and consist of sensations transformed; sensualism; -- opposed to intuitionalism, and rationalism.
the use of verbal or graphic media to create striking or shocking impressions intended to excite interest or attention. the theory or doctrine that all ideas derive solely from sensory experience.
Sensationalism is a manner of being extremely controversial, loud, or attention-grabbing. It is especially applied to the emphasis of the unusual or atypical. It is also a form of theatre.