ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a brief overview of relevant psychological findings and general grounds for caution concerning their application to international relations. If states were known to interact just like individual people, there would be little doubt about the relevance of recognition and disrespect for international relations. Institutionalized decision-making is guided by norms, rules, and procedures that are partly designed to prevent rash emotional response. Finally, some governmental institutions conceivably mitigate the impact of anger on foreign policy, but other state institutions may also propagate national myths and norms that will stimulate national emotions that even pragmatic leaders cannot afford to ignore. It is much easier to depict foreign behavior as an unjustified violation of national status claims. In sum, domestic honor codes and strong collectivist norms render states pricklier when their demands for recognition are not met by foreign actors or even when they only appear to be ignored.
