These approaches focus mainly on psychological processes that cause derivation from rationality, such as misperception.

This level of analysis yields an explanation of the possibility of war, not of any particular war.

It is claimed that political elites can use war to divert popular attention from internal social, economic and political problems.

This view suggests that wars are caused by the egoistic, selfinterested, power seeking and also offensive nature of human beings.

It is asserted in this vein that certain political cultures, ideologies, or religions are more warlike than others.