Systemic pathologies of confrontation: diagnosing security disruption

Abstract

The world post-9/11 is characterised by uncertainty, fear and suspicion. Psychological confrontations amplified by the mass media have even come to dominate physical engagements between warring parties. Drama theory provides a powerful framework for understanding these interactions in much the way that game theory was able to support strategy making by autonomous players in a less inter-connected era. A model of the ‘normal’ process leading to dramatic resolution is an essential feature of the drama theory approach and is described here. However this process can be derailed or fail in many ways. This paper reviews many of these systemic pathologies and illustrates some of them through consideration of three high-profile cases. The conclusion is that it is important to recognise and possibly to use pathological behavior as an element of a character’s interaction strategy.