MUTUALLY reinforcing psychological determinants contributes powerfully to the tendency of group conflicts to escalate into deadly confrontations. The ability to wage deadly conflicts depends on the power of the resources available to leaders on each side, and more importantly, on the strength of the will to prevail. To this end, typically groups in conflict are initially led by small leadership cadres committed to the same worldview as the leader. Thus, leaders and followers mutually support each other.

Characteristic of successful leaders is their persistence in pursuing their goals despite suffering humiliation, defeats, and so forth, and they have the power to persuade their followers to do likewise. Furthermore, powerful leaders reach the top of their societies by persisting in the face of privations, threats, and other negative reinforcements.