Fear

Disciplines > Warfare > Principles > Fear

Principle | Effect | Invoking | Analogy | See also

Principle

Invoke fear in our enemy. Create dread, horror, terror and any other form of fear such that they seek to avoid you and become weaker.

Effect

One of the basic human fears is the fear of annihilation, which is naturally very prevalent if war.

Fear in warfare is a most debilitating condition that leads to abject flight, paralysis and suing for peace. It can also lead to a nothing-to-lose all-out last stand, and so needs to be managed carefully.

Sudden fear thus invokes the Fight-or-Flight response. More effective can be the cold, gnawing fear that erodes and saps the will to fight.

Invoking

A simple way of invoking fear is with a display of overwhelming might. If the enemy sees that you can destroy him utterly with little loss, then he will fear you.

Showing a predilection for using that might multiplies the fear. If they believe you will show no mercy or actively enjoy harming and torturing them, they will fear you more again.

Uncertainty will also create fear. If they cannot predict what you will do next then their imagination will work overtime, dreaming up all kinds of horrors.

And if they cannot predict when or where you will strike, they will constantly look over their shoulder, growing deeply weary in the process.

Analogy

In negotiation or argument throw a fit of anger about something such that they learn to fear your ire.