This thesis proposes a novel influence diagram to incorporate human psychological factors into combat decision-making models. The author, Amy Barsnick, addresses the challenge of quantifying subjective human inputs like personality, emotion, and expertise, which traditional models often overlook. By building upon utility theory, the proposed model aims to provide a more comprehensive representation of combat decision processes. The efficacy of this model is then tested through its application to three historical military engagements.

This work presents a specialized approach to combat modeling, focusing on the often-overlooked human elements that influence decision-making. The methodology, which extends traditional utility theory with psychological factors, is examined through historical case studies. The author's application of the model to these cases suggests its potential utility in understanding past conflicts and informing future simulations.