PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS ON THE INTL SYSTEM

1
PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS ON THE INTL SYSTEM

• POLS 221
• WINTER 2008

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The Role of Perception

• Harold and Margaret Sprout
• An Ecological Paradigm for the Study of
  International Relations
• Human activity is effected by an uneven
  distribution of human and non-human sources
• Reject uni-dimensional geopolitical theories
• Emphasize both physical and non-physical
  characteristics of the international system

3
The Ecological Perspective

• Emphasize a range of geography, demography,
  technology, resources, and most importantly,
  perceptual variables
• Milieu- Integrated holistic view of the
  international environment
• Psycho-milieu- perceptions held by leaders
• Instead of emphasizing one factor, the Sprouts
  advocated a more integrated approach

4
Man-Milieu Relationships

• Environment is a multidimensional system
• No one factor (geography) dominates
• Perceptions of leaders are a focus of analysis
• Decisions based on erroneous perceptions can have
  disastrous consequences
• Example- Cuban Missile Crisis (1961)

5
Cognitive Behaviorism

• A conscious response to milieu via perception and
  no other way
• Focus on the individual level of analysis
• Examples of psychology in IR-
• Egocentric perception by leaders
• Groupthink
• Rationality and full information

6
The Sprouts and I.R.

• The Ecological Perspective has broadened the
  study of IR by integrating theories and data from
  the disciplines of
• Geography
• Psychology
• Sociology