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Attack versus defense: A strategic rationale for role differentiation in conflict
1Department of Politics, New York University, New York, NY 10012. catherine.hafer@nyu.eduhttp://as.nyu.edu/politics/directory.catherine-hafer.html.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|August 14, 2019
Summary
This study proposes a strategic theory explaining how role differences in conflict behavior emerge. It suggests that initial symmetry leads to divergent optimal strategies for attackers and defenders due to evolving trait distributions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Game Theory
- Evolutionary Psychology
Background:
- Conflict behavior often exhibits role-contingent differences.
- Existing theories may not fully capture the strategic underpinnings of these differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a strategic mechanism explaining role-contingent differences in conflict behavior.
- To explore how initially symmetric conditions can lead to asymmetric outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of strategic interactions.
- Analysis of dynamic trait distribution evolution in opponent subpopulations.
Main Results:
- A theory is sketched where role-contingent differences arise dynamically.
- Optimal behaviors for attackers and defenders diverge due to accumulated trait distribution differences.
- Initially symmetric conditions can generate asymmetric conflict behaviors.
Conclusions:
- The proposed strategic mechanism offers a novel explanation for role-contingent conflict behavior.
- Dynamic trait accumulation is a key factor in generating behavioral asymmetries.
- This framework provides insights into the evolution of conflict strategies.
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