The weapons effect: Fact or artifact?

Abstract

Ninety-six male college students were exposed to handguns or no handguns following positive, neutral, or negative personal evaluation. The weapons were explained either as items of defense (“home defense weapons”) or as items of aggression (“guns used in crimes of violent assault”). The dependent measure was hostility or aggression as measured by the Behavior Control Inventory (BCI). The presence or absence of handguns presented as either defensive or offensive weapons was not related to the expression of hostility or aggression. The conclusion is drawn that the weapons effect is a weak variable requiring further research to delineate the conditions of its occurrence. © 1985, The psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.