Weapons Effect

In social psychology, the weapons effect states the more presence, descriptors, or visual representation of a weapon may lead to an increased probability of aggressive behaviors.

Famous quotes containing the words weapons and/or effect:

    Advertisers are the interpreters of our dreams—Joseph interpreting for Pharaoh. Like the movies, they infect the routine futility of our days with purposeful adventure. Their weapons are our weaknesses: fear, ambition, illness, pride, selfishness, desire, ignorance. And these weapons must be kept as bright as a sword.
    —E.B. (Elwyn Brooks)

    Airplanes are invariably scheduled to depart at such times as 7:54, 9:21 or 11:37. This extreme specificity has the effect on the novice of instilling in him the twin beliefs that he will be arriving at 10:08, 1:43 or 4:22, and that he should get to the airport on time. These beliefs are not only erroneous but actually unhealthy.
    Fran Lebowitz (b. 1950)