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.