Strategic Personality Simulation: A New Strategic
Concept
by Dr. Norman D. Livergood
Published by the
U.S. Army War College, 1995
Executive Summary
A Strategic Group (group desiring to predict and control some individual's or group's behavior) selects a
personality as its target for control (termed Personality 1)
The target personality might be:
an enemy leader of a hostile nation
the CEO of a competitor corporation
a candidate in a national election
any person or group whose behavior you wish to control and/or influence
The Strategic Group builds a profile of P1, the target personality, through whatever means and
sources it has at its disposal. These can include:
interviews with the target personality
observing it
studying its communications (both written and oral)
interviews with persons who know P1
experimental interventions to test the effectiveness of the simulation system.
The Strategic Group views the personality as the intersection of internal and external elements:
incoming (factors and personalities which control P1) and
outgoing (factors and personalities which P1 controls)
The strategic personality simulation would also include external factors (such as the political
situation) and external persons (such as P1's superior).
The Strategic Group would influence and/or control P1 through:
indirect means - influencing/controlling other persons or factors which in turn control/influence P1
direct means - influencing/controlling internal elements within P1
Strategic Personality Simulation involves:
A Strategic Group (SG) attempting to control a target personality (P1)
A target personality (P1)
The SG's objectives (actions it wants P1 to perform)
Quantitative analysis of the internal and external elements which control P1
Factors
Personalities
Testing of the analysis in a gaming environment
The Strategic Group making recommendations to key decisionmakers as to how to control P1
IP = Influencing personality - personality which influences/controls P1
IF = Influencing factor - factor which influences/controls P1
OP = Outside personality - personality over which P1 has some influence/control
OF = Outside factor - factor over which P1 has some influence/control
By creating a sophisticated profile of any personality (individual or group), it is possible to influence
and control that personality's behavior.