Definition

Strategic Calculus is the hidden formula each person uses to compute decisions—often unconsciously operating in high-stakes moments.

Components

• Risk Weighting: How much weight they give to potential downsides
• Opportunity Cost: How they value “what could be” vs. “what is”
• Time Horizon: Short-term survival vs. long-term empire building
• Trust Variables: What evidence they require before commitment

Real-World Example

Truman Simulation: The atomic bomb decision required understanding Truman’s Strategic Calculus—how he weighed American lives saved vs. civilian casualties, political legacy vs. moral burden, immediate victory vs. post-war order.

Why It’s Predictive

Once you decode someone’s Strategic Calculus, you can predict their decision before they make it. You can also engineer proposals that score highest on their internal formula.

It’s not manipulation—it’s precision alignment.