What is the main purpose of chemical agents like lacrimators?

The primary purpose of chemical agents like lacrimators is to cause confusion and temporarily incapacitate individuals. Lacrimators, such as tear gas, are designed to irritate the eyes, leading to excessive tearing and disorientation. This effect creates a haze of confusion, hindering the ability of a person to function normally, which can be strategically advantageous in a variety of operational contexts, such as crowd control or during military engagements.

While control of behavior may occur as a secondary effect, the immediate intention behind using these agents is not to directly manipulate actions but rather to disorient and confuse. The use of such agents is rooted in the need to incapacitate an adversary without resorting to lethal force, making them a non-lethal option on the spectrum of potential responses in various scenarios.