On behavior analysis and nuclear extinction

Abstract

The nuclear arms race represents the preeminent threat to human survival, potentially resulting in societal collapse and biological extinction. Because technological and humanitarian approaches have failed to halt this escalation, the crisis must be addressed as a behavioral problem. A fundamental obstacle to effective action is the nature of extinction warnings; since the event cannot be experienced, such signals lack predictive value and often evoke avoidance or learned helplessness. The persistence of the arms race is characterized by a behavioral momentum derived from a long-term history of reinforcement and stimulus control. Reversing this trajectory requires the development of alternative behaviors—such as political advocacy, social engagement, and professional analysis—that are maintained by immediate, response-dependent consequences. By establishing these local reinforcements, individuals can generate sufficient behavioral momentum to counteract the actions currently advancing nuclear deployment. This approach seeks to avoid global catastrophe as a long-term byproduct of immediate, reinforced activity. – AI-generated abstract.