ABSTRACT
Social scientists interested in political decision-making have long been fascinated by Soviet and American perceptions-and misperceptions—of one another. Faulty perceptions, especially those of the political elite in both countries, have been cited by various scholars as responsible for the deterioration of East-West relations after World War II, the escalation of the nuclear arms race, and the intractibility of most outstanding international political issues. Misperception has been identified as one of the important driving forces behind East-West conflict, particularly misperception by political leaders. Perceptions and misperceptions are not static. They change over time in response to events, to decisions, and to other factors, although changes usually occur slowly. Just as it is important to study the origins of misperception, it is also important to study the dynamics of perceptual change. An important factor in perceptual change is the awareness of interdependence of perceptions.
