War game

Explanations > Behaviors > Games >  War game

Purpose | Game play | Discussion | So what?

Purpose

Primary: Power, Revenge

Secondary: Social capital

Game play

B feels threatened by A or wants something that A has.

B attacks or threatens A.

A feels outraged and attacks B back even more viciously, either alone or by calling in allies.

B feels even more threatened and outraged by A's escalation.

The war escalates with a number of factors being included:

• Alliances and drawing other people into the two sides.
• Taking, defending and attacking of positions.
• Battles and skirmishes, that become ends in their own right.
• Massive commitment of resources to the war.
• Extreme goals and actions that can include total extermination of the other side.

Discussion

Both sides in a war feel justified and always seem to have 'God on their side'. 'Feud' is a minor form of niggling war that can drag on for centuries.

Wars appear in many places, include families, workplaces and (of course) nations.

So what?

Beware of starting wars - they are very difficult to stop. If you are caught in one, see if you can take a mediation role.

See also

Blame game, The Third Side

Eric Berne, (1964), Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships, Balantine Books

Thomas Harris (1996), I'm OK-You're OK, Avon books