General Discussion

kpete

(72,028 posts) Wed Mar 21, 2012, 10:34 AM Mar 2012

Holding a gun makes you think others are too, new research shows

In five experiments, subjects were shown multiple images of people on a computer screen and determined whether the person was holding a gun or a neutral object such as a soda can or cell phone. Subjects did this while holding either a toy gun or a neutral object such as a foam ball.

The researchers varied the situation in each experiment - such as having the people in the images sometimes wear ski masks, changing the race of the person in the image or changing the reaction subjects were to have when they perceived the person in the image to hold a gun. Regardless of the situation the observers found themselves in, the study showed that responding with a gun biased observers to report "gun present" more than did responding with a ball...

...The researchers showed that the ability to act is a key factor in the effects by showing that simply letting observers see a nearby gun did not influence their behavior; holding and using the gun was important.

more:
http://newsinfo.nd.edu/news/29684-holding-a-gun-makes-you-think-others-are-too-new-research-shows/

5 replies

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Holding a gun makes you think others are too, new research shows (Original Post) kpete Mar 2012 OP

A flawed study. If the people were given a spork they'd be likely to see the other people as having Erose999 Mar 2012 #1

How many degrees do you have? rfranklin Mar 2012 #4

I think that's the point: when people carry guns they're more likely to think another is armed Voice for Peace Mar 2012 #5

My wife and I were in a bar last Saturday and I had a Bilbo "What have I got in my pocket?" momement HopeHoops Mar 2012 #2

Put a plastic gun in someone's hand and have them watch a video.. X_Digger Mar 2012 #3

Erose999

(5,624 posts)

1. A flawed study. If the people were given a spork they'd be likely to see the other people as having

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Mar 21, 2012, 10:43 AM

Mar 2012

sporks. That is just the nature of getting recruited for a survey and not knowing what to expect. Of course the object you're given conditions your response. Thats hardly groundbreaking research. They should have included a control where the observers weren't holding anything.

I read that tripe on the AP yesterday.

There's also new research that shows if you chase after an unarmed teenager and gun them down even after 911 dispatch has told you, repeatedly, to stand down, you're more likely to be thought of as a murdering asshole by your peers.

rfranklin

(13,200 posts)

4. How many degrees do you have?

Reply to Erose999 (Reply #1)

Wed Mar 21, 2012, 11:15 AM

Mar 2012

I doubt you are qualified to peer review this study.

Voice for Peace

(13,141 posts)

5. I think that's the point: when people carry guns they're more likely to think another is armed

Reply to Erose999 (Reply #1)

Wed Mar 21, 2012, 12:44 PM

Mar 2012

and this ups the odds of a shooting taking place, imo -- so I think it's an interesting study.

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)

2. My wife and I were in a bar last Saturday and I had a Bilbo "What have I got in my pocket?" momement

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Mar 21, 2012, 10:44 AM

Mar 2012

I pulled out a fully sharpened steel 8-point throwing star. "Oh, that." I just put it away and that was that. I've always got some kind of weapon on me, but I'll be damned if I could find it in a flash moment.

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)

3. Put a plastic gun in someone's hand and have them watch a video..

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Mar 21, 2012, 10:47 AM

Mar 2012

How many of them are thinking (since they don't know the nature of the study) that there's a video game angle?

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