Counterplanning: A Strategy-Based Model of Adversary Planning in Real-World Situations

Plan formulation and plan comprehension in adversary situations constitute integral components of human reasoning. A process model based on heuristic strategies is presented for decision making in obstructive and constructive counterplanning situations. The former situation is characterized by an actor striving to thwart the goals and plans of a second actor. The latter is the dual situation; it provides general means for an actor to pursue his goals in spite of attempts by others to block his initial plans. The model has been implemented as part of the poLrr[cs system, a computer program that understands brief natural language accounts of international political conflicts.