Limitations of Intelligence Analysis from Psychological Stress Perspective. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18847/1.10.6

Abstract

The intelligence analysis process is a set of cognitive mechanisms aiming to transform the whole of received information into an intellectual product able to help to comprehend, to understand and to make decisions about that information. Nowadays, a suitable use of information is an essential part of decision making, therefore it is a handy tool for power and leadership for public and private institutions from all kind of professional areas, such as Economy, Politics or Health. The study of human factors in analysis intelligence shows how this subject is responsible of many mistakes attributed to intelligence services. Along this document we present psychological stress as a usual partner of the teams involved in the intelligence cycle, sometimes generating in the individual and in the group greater activity, will and hard work, sometimes enabling perception, estimation or decision making biases, for example. We will review the mistakes related to psychological stress in the intelligence analysis and we will put forward some basic skills to be developed not only by the individual analyst but also by the managers who lead these groups of intelligence from above.