Pufferfish effect (psychology)

Pufferfish effect is where an individual will seem more daunting to engage or counteract because they appear faster, better or more capable than they actually are, and is usually the (intended) side-effect of the Derren Brown method.

It originates from the pufferfish, who attempts to scare away potential predators by puffing themselves up.

Psychology
Individuals seen as 'weaker' or 'less resolved' will give off subconscious cues as to the uncertainity of their position, which usually cues individuals in to attack or exploit the opportunity to their own advantage. By acting stronger ('puffing themselves up') or making their position more challenging to attack, an individual can deter a potential attacker, whether in the physical or in cyberspace.

Pufferfish effect is the end result of the milgram experiment.

Inversely, pufferfish effect means that individuals who act or seem weak (even if intrinsically stronger) will be deemed weak. This can be utilised to an individuals advantage in the forms of obsfucating confusion, obsfucating stupidity, and obsfucating insanity, which will make an individual seem like less of a threat and thus less of a target.

Trivialising attempts to be the inverse of the pufferfish effect by downplaying the importance of an incorrect event and by deflecting attention away from it.

Logic
In terms of debates, the pufferfish effect can be extremely useful in resource conservation by deterring trivial debates from less capable posters, as well as applying half of an argument is PR. By presenting yourself in such a way, it may also discourage the usage of fallacies or attempts at dismissal.