Indicators of Stress in Policymakers during Foreign Policy Crises

Given the far-reaching consequences of decisions in foreign policy crises for a nation and the international arena, the quality of decision making in such situations needs careful attention. Case studies indicate that the quality of the performance of policymakers in crises is highly variable. Some policymakers reveal abilities and resourcefulness in crisis situations seldom seen in their day-to-day activities; whereas others appear erratic, devoid of sound judgment, and disconnected from reality. As Robert Kennedy (1969, p. 31) noted of the policymakers who participated in the decision making during the Cuban missile crisis: