ABSTRACT
The law of anticipated reactions (LAR) concerns the effects of perceptions of power1 and expectations of its use without any actual use of power. Commonsense causal schemas imply that the probability of sanctions by A is proportional to the intensity of A's preferences or to the magnitude of A's gains. If B cannot infer A's preferences, a minimax strategy nevertheless exists if it is possible for B to do nothing at all. Nondecisions are not always possible or even always cost-free. A professor may call on students in rotation rather than calling only on volunteers. Like compliance, nondecisions should be proportional to A's perceived potential power. The law of anticipated reactions (LAR) says that a less powerful actor, B, will comply with the preferences of a more powerful actor, A, even if A uses no power, because perceptions of power and expectations of the use of power are functional equivalents of use.
