Demonstration effects are effects on the behavior of individuals caused by observation of the actions of others and their consequences. The term is particularly used in political science and sociology to describe the fact that developments in one place will often act as a catalyst in another place.

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  • Demonstration effects are effects on the behavior of individuals caused by observation of the actions of others and their consequences. The term is particularly used in political science and sociology to describe the fact that developments in one place will often act as a catalyst in another place. Some of the many possible examples of demonstration effects could include: In the late 1700s, the successful American Revolution might have provided a demonstration effect that sparked the subsequent French Revolution. Generally, many argue that political movements are often given a boost from the observed success of similar political movements in other countries. The domino effect thesis relates to this idea; it argued that successful communist revolutions in some countries would provide an impetus for communist revolutions in other countries. Countries may adopt economic policies similar to those used by countries which have had economic success; the proven success of the policies provides a demonstration effect that impels other countries toward similar policies in order to emulate that success. Some, such as heterodox economists James Duesenberry (1949) and Robert Frank (1987), following the original insights of Thorstein Veblen (1899), have argued that awareness of the consumption habits of others tends to inspire emulation in of these practices. Duesenberry (1949) gave the name "demonstration effect" (p. 27) to this phenomenon - arguing that it promoted unhappiness with current levels of consumption, which impacted savings rates and consequently opportunities for macroeconomic growth. Similarly, Nurske (1957) argued that the exposure of a society to new goods or ways of living creates unhappiness with what had previously been acceptable consumption practices. He dubbed this the "international demonstration effect", arguing that in developing nations, pressure to increase access to material goods rapidly increases primarily because people "come into contact with superior goods or superior patterns of consumption, with new articles or new ways of meeting old wants". As a result, he argued, these people are "apt to feel after a while a certain restlessness and dissatisfaction. Their knowledge is extended, their imagination stimulated; new desires are aroused" (p. 112). Parents may take care of their parents in order to create a demonstration effect by which their children will later care for them.
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  • Demonstration effects are effects on the behavior of individuals caused by observation of the actions of others and their consequences. The term is particularly used in political science and sociology to describe the fact that developments in one place will often act as a catalyst in another place.
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  • Demonstration effect
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