The notion of 'strategy' plays a central role in game theory, business, and war. This thesis offers an understanding of the term can be rendered canonical for all three contexts. I argue first that rational behaviour is either complacent or non-complacent. Second, what makes non-complacent rationally distinct is reconnaissance and predictive deliberation. And so third, what we can count as 'strategic' behaviour is the employment of reconnaissance and deliberation in pursuit of alternative practices of higher utility. / vi, 91 leaves ; 28 cm.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Psychology Department, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.