简介:Theworldpost-9/11ischaracterisedbyuncertainty,fearandsuspicion.Psychologicalconfrontationsamplifiedbythemassmediahaveevencometodominatephysicalengagementsbetweenwarringparties.Dramatheoryprovidesapowerfulframeworkforunderstandingtheseinteractionsinmuchthewaythatgametheorywasabletosupportstrategymakingbyautonomousplayersinalessinter-connectedera.Amodelofthe'normal'processleadingtodramaticresolutionisanessentialfeatureofthedramatheoryapproachandisdescribedhere.Howeverthisprocesscanbederailedorfailinmanyways.Thispaperreviewsmanyofthesesystemicpathologiesandillustratessomeofthemthroughconsiderationofthreehigh-profilecases.Theconclusionisthatitisimportanttorecogniseandpossiblytousepathologicalbehaviorasanelementofacharacter'sinteractionstrategy.