Ep 313 Peacewarts: Social Chemistry 101 – Sleep, Hunger, and War (Class 10)

Ep 313 Peacewarts: Social Chemistry 101 – Sleep, Hunger, and War (Class 10) Episode Summary: We examine the biological foundations of stability, focusing on how sleep deprivation and hunger degrade the prefrontal cortex and amplify threat perception. Using the 12-Step framework of HALT, executive fatigue during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the French Revolution, we explore why regulated bodies are a prerequisite for sustained peace. Homework: Look up the 2007 sleep deprivation study by Dr. Matthew Walker and colleagues (Yoo et al., Current Biology). Identify the percentage increase in amygdala reactivity found after one night without sleep. Write down one question about any of this episode’s topics. If you don’t have a question, write 'no question.' Optional: Research the physical condition of S. Executive Committee participants during the Cuban Missile Crisis. How did extreme sleep deprivation impact decision-making during the thirteen days? Books: If you'd like to read more on this subject, some book suggestions are Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, Ph.D., an influential and widely read account of how sleep loss impacts emotional regulation, though parts of it have been challenged for accuracy, and Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis by Graham Allison and Philip Zelikow, a classic political science study analyzing the crisis through three competing models of governmental decision-making. Learning Topics: The HALT Protocol; 12-Step Recovery Frameworks; Executive Fatigue in Crisis; Hunger as an Accelerant; Heat and Aggression; Cognitive Limits in Statecraft. · Join the Community / Get the Books: www.AvisKalfsbeek.com · Podcast Music: Javier Peke Rodriguez “I am late, madame Curie” https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW