The Assessment Process & The Illusion of Validity

When assessing candidates for their potential to be officers in the Israeli Defence Forces, Daniel Kahneman (2011) coined the phrase ‘the illusion of validity’, which he states was his first cognitive fallacy. Daniel states: “I coined the term “illusion of validity” because the confidence we had in judgments about individual soldiers was not affected by… Read More

US Army Psychological & Unconventional Warfare between 1941 & 1952

Title Psychological and Unconventional Warfare. 1941-1952: Origins of a “Special Warfare” Capability for the United States Army. Outline This study examines the United States Army’s activities in psychological and unconventional warfare during and after World War II to determine the impetus for, and origins of, the formal special warfare capability created in 1952 with the establishment of… Read More

Motivation: Money & Yellow Ribbon!

“We can not pay people to do their best, nor can we order them to excel.” Unknown “Money motivates neither the best people, nor the best in people. It can move the body and influence the mind, but it cannot touch the heart or move the spirit; that is reserved for belief, principle and morality. As… Read More

Decision-Making and Going Uphill…

“There is a saying inside the organization that you shouldn’t make a decision while you are going uphill,” said the Lead Instructor. “The decision to see things through and to persevere should be made before you start the task.” (Lee, 2015). Lee, D. (2015) MARSOC Begins Screening And Assessment. Available from World Wide Web: https://www.marines.com/news/-/news-story/detail/NEWS_13MAR2015_MARSOC-BEGINS-SCREENING-ASSESSMENT_MARINESMIL. [Accessed: 31… Read More