Evolutionary Psychology, Cognitive Function, and Deterrence

Abstract

For decades deterrence has been understood to depend largely on psychology—convincing an adversary that certain actions are not in the adversary's best interests. However, beyond a token mention, contemporary discussions of deterrence seldom examine further the role of psychology and brain function in human decision making in matters of war and violence. Instead, deterrence planners typically rely on the rational actor model as a convenient simplifying assumption. The rational actor model itself is comprised of corollary assumptions that do not comport with scientific findings or empirical evidence from historical studies. This article examines the development of the human brain, human cognition (the process of knowing), and relevant findings from the field of evolutionary psychology, as well as various factors that affect brain function and decision making. The discussion herein of psychology, human cognition, and deterrence suggests the inadequacy of the rational actor model for deterrence planning and offers a few useful guidelines as an alternative.