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In reply to the discussion: Reason people buy AR-15 type guns is similar to the reason why people buy Huge SUVs... [View all]KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)3. Intimidation: This is related to safety, because how we drive is at least as important as what we drive. When one feels immune to risk, one tends to act less safely.
You may have seen the recent 60 Minutes story about SUVs, which quoted a psychologist and automobile-industry consultant about why people buy SUVs. He said that its not about safety or roominess or any of the other reasons people cite. And of course a very small minority of SUV owners actually take their vehicles off-road. Most of them dont have the undercarriage clearance to do so anyway.
The psychologist said the real reason is that people want to project a tough and intimidating image when they drive down the street. Ads for SUVs certainly tap into this motivation. General Motors in particular has been aggressive in marketing its Cadillac Escalade, in commercials in which trains stop at railroad crossings to let the Escalade pass, and other cars scurry away when the Escalade shows up.