Schelling's Paradox of Deterrence

In a game of chicken, the player who can credibly commit to an irreversible course of action first—appearing irrational by severing their own escape route—paradoxically wins. What seems like irrational behavior (destroying your own steering wheel) becomes the most rational strategic choice in the game.

Read the daily articles behind this idea on the Chinese edition.

Related principles

• → Links
  Signal vs. Noise: Inferring Business Intent from Supply Chain Actions
• → Links
  Strategic Exit: Identity Shift from Strategic Partner to Financial Investor
• → Links
  Backward Compatibility as Competitive Moat
• ↗ Extends
  OODA Loop
• → Links
  Coordination Problem
• → Links
  Zone of Possible Agreement (ZOPA)
• → Links
  Flexibility Constraint Breaking