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Ambush

 

Disciplines > Warfare > Tactics > Ambush

Action | Analysis | Example | Analogy | See also

 

Action

Lead your enemy into a zone where you can suddenly and unexpectedly attack them in a 'killing field'.

When ambushed, they should find it difficult to escape. It should be possible to kill or capture all of them with relatively few losses on your part, although a terrified rout may be an effective warning of your power.

Analysis

A classic way of leading the enemy into an ambush is to retreat in apparent terror from a battle. This abject behavior on your part makes the enemy feel superior. However, when you leave, the symbol that made them feel superior also leaves.

Also, when a soldier is in the bloodlust of battle, a retreating enemy denies him the primitive satisfaction of slaughter.

From a logical position too, a retreating enemy may regroup and attack you another day.

In other words, there are good reasons to pursue a retreating enemy, and several of these may be done in a state of high emotional arousal and hence low rationality. Thought of ambush may thus only occur to the very wary.

When the ambush occurs, bloodlust can turn to confused terror very quickly as the enemy, having closed on the notion of conquest, suddenly becomes the trapped victim.

Example

 

Analogy

People can be ambushed in argument, for example be appearing to give in to an aggressive onslaught but then, as they pursue you, neatly pull the rug out from under them with incisive comment.

See also

Confusion in war

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed