Not Non-Lethal Weapons: the Counter-Personnel Behavioral Effects Weapons Framework for Armament Engineers

Abstract

Behavioral effects weapons (BEW) are devices that are intended to change the behavior of their human target. The article describes the critical considerations and a framework to guide the development of BEW. Human physiology is the fundamental basis for the theoretical framework of BEW engineering. Effectiveness of BEW starts with the physiological effects induced by stimuli or energy generated by a weapon. These physiological effects, in turn, affect target behavior. Behaviors are altered by (1) changing the motivation of the targeted individual(s) to perform the behavior and (2) changing the ability of the targeted individual(s) to perform the behavior. In addition to the thresholds for effectiveness of BEW, the limitations due to risk of signification injury (RSI) define the solution space for armament engineers. Finally, ethical considerations for the armaments developer are presented. It is hoped that the information in this article will serve as a guide for the armaments engineering community in order to fill a critical weapon capability gap.