Psychological Theories in International Conflicts: Understanding Aggression and Cooperation

Abstract

This article explores important psychological factors that accompany international wars because it can be said to have equal significance alongside the political and economic ones, which have been of concern to scholars as far back as one can remember. This article examines the relevance of psychological theories in dealing with areas of international relations such as cooperation and aggression. The study will present the volume on violence which appears as an aggression against pacifying strategies by utilizing well-known ideas such as the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis and Social Identity Theory. The views of the Frustration-aggressiveness Hypothesis which was formulated by John Dollard and others, the displeasure or unfulfilled wants of a nation could transform into rage, which most times shows itself through a belligerent tongue or martial violence. This is particularly important for understanding why such issues as the perception of injustice, the conflicts over territory, or economic problems are sometimes expressed in the form of world wars. On the other hand, there is Henri Tajfel who developed the social identification Theory, which focuses upon intergroup relations through the process of group as well as social identification development. In accordance with the theory, every nation as every human being is inclined to favor its own group (the in-group) and exhibits suspicion or hostility towards the out-group which brings about clashes. So, this paper mainly focuses on these psychological concepts and the corpus of theories developed consequently in relation to the appearance of conflicts and/or rivalry between states, with special references to relations when nationalistic sentiment or rather ‘we feeling’ is involved. It seeks to explore a number of psychological perspectives including the Cognitive Dissonance Theory, and even how some leaders or states may rationalize violence in their cause and actions. This idea is important in the analysis of the mental state of a state that is aggressive but attempts to balance itself ideologically as well. But violence is not the only aspect of the psychological component of international relations. This research focuses on the factors that enable international relations through looking at the factors of reciprocity, mutual trust and common identity. Cooperation is often viewed as a psychological factor of international relations in as much as formulating shared objectives and reaching a common understanding are the emphases in the settlement of conflicts. The role of diplomacy that has a strong focus on psychology, the management, resolution and negotiation of conflicts is also examined in order to demonstrate the relevance of psychological factors in obtaining peace.