The Case for Cultural Diversity in the Intelligence Community

Callum, Robert

doi:10.1080/08850600150501317

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…In an early pioneering study, he also presented means and techniques to improve the mental capacity of intelligence analysts (Heuer 1999). A different means to overcome some of the inherent problems of intelligence analysis was suggested by Callum (2001), who maintained that greater diversity within the analyst’s community would lessen the impact of shared, common biases.…”

Section: Intelligence Reforms: Looking For the Key Under The Lampmentioning

confidence: 99%

Change the Analyst and Not the System: A Different Approach to Intelligence Reform

Bar‐Joseph

McDermott

2008

Foreign Policy Analysis

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Recent intelligence failures, including first and foremost the mistaken estimate of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) prior to the war, show that a prime source of such failures is the adherence by analysts to preconceptions (or mind-sets) which entail the rejection of new information that contradicts it. The source of this kind of problem lies in well known psychological mechanisms. Yet official investigations into intelligence blunders have typically ignored this problem or have not suggested an appropriate solution thus far. Our paper suggests an original approach based on the fact that certain types of personalities are more likely than others to fall victim to these biased judgments. Existing psychological tests can help determine individual susceptibility to such tendencies. Therefore we suggest that intelligence organizations should pay far more attention to these personality characteristics, especially an analyst's level of openness, in recruitment, training, and promotion. Such attention would help create more effective reforms in intelligence than organizational models which advocate ''devil's advocate'' kind of solutions.

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Section: Intelligence Reforms: Looking For the Key Under The Lampmentioning

confidence: 99%

Change the Analyst and Not the System: A Different Approach to Intelligence Reform

Bar‐Joseph

McDermott

2008

Foreign Policy Analysis

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“…Superb judgment is necessary to carry out their work (Jones, 1995).When the action of the enemy is thwarted, their victory is likely to be masked with secrecy. When a breakdown leads to unexpected events, they are charged with intelligence failure (Callum, 2001). This gap became more apparent in the aftermath of 9/11.…”

Section: The Culture Within the Intelligence Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The intelligence community and the war on terror: the role of behavioral science

Busch¹,

Weissman²

2005

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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The United States intelligence community has been under intense scrutiny from both inside and outside in the aftermath of September 11. Post mortem assessments of intelligence breakdowns may judge the events as more predictable than was in fact the actual reality. In a troubled world, when threats to national security can materialize very quickly, the intelligence community must be able to effectively and swiftly develop and implement plans to prevent further terrorist attacks on the homeland. Numerous scenarios need to be considered for the management of crisis situations. Intelligence actions must make it more difficult for terrorists to strike at their targets. The war on terror must confront a new generation of enemies who threaten to attack the United States with weapons of mass destruction. This essay will focus on the role of behavioral science and how related reforms within the intelligence community could improve its capability to respond to a huge challenge.

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“…Como sesgo, el mirror-imaging es intrínseco a la naturaleza humana y muy difícil de evitar o controlar, lo que le convierte en un claro ejemplo de trampa cognitiva ineludible en el análisis de inteligencia 14 . Como señala acertadamente Callum (2001), si hasta los antropólogos, cuya profesión es el estudio de otras culturas, pueden ser víctimas de este sesgo, es fácil comprender que los analistas de inteligencia pueden caer en la misma trampa 15 .…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Mirror-Imaging. Un sesgo cognitivo en el análisis de inteligencia

Sánchez¹,

Antonio²

2018

UNISCIJ

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Tradicionalmente se ha considerado el mirror-imaging como un fenómeno cultural que afecta tanto al análisis de inteligencia como al proceso de toma de decisiones. Esta perspectiva obvia a menudo los aspectos psicológicos del fenómeno y restringe su estudio al análisis de la influencia que ha tenido en la ocurrencia de numerosos fallos y errores de importantes consecuencias para la seguridad y estabilidad del mundo occidental. En este trabajo partimos de la consideración del mirror-imaging como un sesgo cognitivo que afecta a la interpretación y análisis de información. Ello nos permite analizar, desde un punto de vista psicológico, su mecanismo de actuación, sus rasgos y características definitorias, así como su etiología y la influencia que determinados factores tienen en su aparición. Este enfoque psicológico permite además un abordaje holístico de la prevención del mirror-imaging, centrándonos no solo en la mejora de los aspectos técnicos del proceso analítico, sino sobre todo en el fomento de la adquisición y aplicación de destrezas y habilidades personales al análisis de inteligencia.

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The Case for Cultural Diversity in the Intelligence Community

Cited by 16 publications

References 3 publications

Change the Analyst and Not the System: A Different Approach to Intelligence Reform

Change the Analyst and Not the System: A Different Approach to Intelligence Reform

The intelligence community and the war on terror: the role of behavioral science

Mirror-Imaging. Un sesgo cognitivo en el análisis de inteligencia

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