Perceptions of Threat, Correlates of Dread, and Collective Instability: Implications for Cognitive Engagement and Deterrence Strategy
Abstract
This essay argues that individual and collective perceptions of threat—and their neurocognitive correlate, dread—are key drivers of instability, volatility, and violence, and thus must be understood and engaged as strategic elements of modern cognitive warfare and deterrence. Unlike prior analyses, it integrates neuroscience, narrative theory, and behavioral modeling to create actionable frameworks for identifying, forecasting, and mitigating cognitive and social tipping points. This synthesis offers military and policy practitioners a novel, interdisciplinary toolkit to anticipate and influence population behavior, prevent escalation, and enhance mission readiness in the increasingly complex cognitive-operational environment.
Fields of Study & Subjects
International Relations and Foreign Policy
European and Russian Geopolitical Military Strategies
Social and Intergroup Psychology
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Open Journal of Social Sciences
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 02
- Pages
- 188–206
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN