The recent spate of beheadings carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) may have a knock-on impact, encouraging people to carry out similar acts of execution, an expert has warned.
Social psychologist Arie W. Kruglanski, said that the frequent, high profile reports of beheadings carried out by the terror group could result in 'psychological priming' of people, who may threaten to carry out the act during moments of conflict or emulate them, reported the CNN.
He pointed out that the very concept of beheading, which was virtually non-existent in our unconscious previously, is now there and may be activated when passions run high.
The statement came as a person was beheaded in a terror attack conducted by unknown assailants at a U.S. gas factory in France.
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