Weapons Effect

The weapons effect is the tendency of weapons to increase the likelihood of aggression by their simple presence in a situation. The investigation of a possible causal link between firearms and impulsive aggression was found by Berkowitz and LePage (1967). Numerous persons may respond in the midst of anxiety or fear in the company of weapons and inhibit aggressive reactions.

Firearms violence is an important social problem for many individuals mainly because of the extreme exposure of them in their environment. Psychologists think that the sight of the weapons stimulates aggression through classical conditioning processes resulting from the learned associations involving aggressive acts and weapons. [Turner, Simons, Berkowitz, and Frodi] Individuals may differ in the associations they have with various weapons. [Kassin, Fein, and Markus]

A study was done to support Berkowitz and LePage’s work. The study found that angered participants gave more shocks to their experimental partner when they were exposed to weapons than when they were not exposed to weapons. In the present study, this effect was demonstrated only in participants who were nonapprehensive and low in suspicion. [Simons and Tuner]

Notes

References

* Kassin, S., Fein, S., & Markus, H.R. (2008). Social psychology (7th. ed.). Houghton Mifflin: Boston.
* Simons, L. S., & Turner, C. W. (1974). A further investigation of the weapons effect. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 1(1), 186-188.
* Turner, C. W., Simons, L. S., Berkowitz, L., & Frodi, A. (1977). The stimulating and inhibiting effects of weapons on aggressive behavior. Aggressive Behavior, 3, 355-378.