Deterrence
noun
The act of making someone decide not to do something, or preventing something from happening.
Strict rules and high fines act as a deterrence to potential law breakers.
Often appears as...
- nuclear deterrence
- crime deterrence
Usage tips
Formal
noun
In law, the use of punishment as a threat to deter people from offending.
The court's verdict would act as a deterrence to others who might consider similar actions.
Often appears as...
- capital punishment as deterrence
- deterrence theory
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
In military strategy, the idea of making a potential enemy afraid to attack by promising to fight back strongly.
The possession of nuclear weapons for deterrence has been a strategy of many countries.
Often appears as...
- deterrence policy
- nuclear deterrence
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The act of making someone decide not to do something, or preventing something from happening.
Strict rules and high fines act as a deterrence to potential law breakers.
Often appears as...
- nuclear deterrence
- crime deterrence
Usage tips
Formal
noun
In law, the use of punishment as a threat to deter people from offending.
The court's verdict would act as a deterrence to others who might consider similar actions.
Often appears as...
- capital punishment as deterrence
- deterrence theory
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
In military strategy, the idea of making a potential enemy afraid to attack by promising to fight back strongly.
The possession of nuclear weapons for deterrence has been a strategy of many countries.
Often appears as...
- deterrence policy
- nuclear deterrence
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Behavior Influence
Deterrence can be about discouraging actions by creating rules or fear of consequences.
Heavy surveillance in shops serves as deterrence against shoplifting.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Punishment
Deterrence doesn't always mean punishment; it can be any measure that stops something from happening.
The presence of a lifeguard is a deterrence to unsafe swimming.
Pro Tip 3/3Proactive Approach
It's a proactive approach to avoid a negative outcome rather than responding after it happens.
Educational campaigns about drinking and driving act as a deterrence to teenagers.
Pro Tip 1/3Behavior Influence
Deterrence can be about discouraging actions by creating rules or fear of consequences.
Heavy surveillance in shops serves as deterrence against shoplifting.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Punishment
Deterrence doesn't always mean punishment; it can be any measure that stops something from happening.
The presence of a lifeguard is a deterrence to unsafe swimming.
Pro Tip 3/3Proactive Approach
It's a proactive approach to avoid a negative outcome rather than responding after it happens.
Educational campaigns about drinking and driving act as a deterrence to teenagers.
Pro Tip 1/3Behavior Influence
Deterrence can be about discouraging actions by creating rules or fear of consequences.
Heavy surveillance in shops serves as deterrence against shoplifting.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Punishment
Deterrence doesn't always mean punishment; it can be any measure that stops something from happening.
The presence of a lifeguard is a deterrence to unsafe swimming.
Pro Tip 3/3Proactive Approach
It's a proactive approach to avoid a negative outcome rather than responding after it happens.
Educational campaigns about drinking and driving act as a deterrence to teenagers.
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Video examples
Jason De León: Decoding...
through southern Arizona it's impossible virtually to cross near urban ports of entry but we've essentially left the back door in southern Arizona open in an attempt to use the the desert environment itself as a form of deterrence the federal policy is called prevention through deterrence the thinking being
Video examples
The surprising decline...
And so on. Hunter-gatherer peoples explicitly go through this train of thought and will often raid their neighbors out of fear of being raided first. Now, one way of dealing with this problem is by deterrence.
Video examples
Jason De León: Decoding...
through southern Arizona it's impossible virtually to cross near urban ports of entry but we've essentially left the back door in southern Arizona open in an attempt to use the the desert environment itself as a form of deterrence the federal policy is called prevention through deterrence the thinking being
Video examples
The surprising decline...
And so on. Hunter-gatherer peoples explicitly go through this train of thought and will often raid their neighbors out of fear of being raided first. Now, one way of dealing with this problem is by deterrence.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Paul Bloom
Canadian Psychologist
Even in the most peaceful communities, an appetite for violence shows up in dreams, fantasies, sports, play, literature, movies and television. And, so long as we don't transform into angels, violence and the threat of violence - as in punishment and deterrence - is needed to rein in our worst instincts.
Quote examples
Yoshihiko Noda
Japanese Statesman
Japan's alliance with the U.S. will only grow in importance amid the increasingly difficult security situation surrounding our country, thus I think it is necessary to keep the marines in Okinawa, a geographically strategic location from the standpoint of maintaining deterrence.
Quote examples
Barbara Deming
American Author
Of course it can be said of jails, too, that they try - by punishing the troublesome - to deter others. No doubt, in certain instances this deterrence actually works. But generally speaking it fails conspicuously.
Quote examples
Natan Sharansky
Russian Writer
The only peace that can be made with a dictator is once that must be based on deterrence. For today, the dictator may be your friend, but tomorrow he will need you as an enemy.
Quote examples
John Bolton
American Statesman
When you have a regime that would be happier in the afterlife than in this life, this is not a regime that is subject to classic theories of deterrence.
Quote examples
Rick Wilson
American Author
The purpose of nuclear weapons is to deter. The mission of deterrence to make all parties in possession of nuclear weapons never, ever use them.
Quote examples
Kersti Kaljulaid
Estonian Politician
NATO's deterrence has always been adequate, and I'm not worried about the physical security of my country. Not at all.
Quote examples
Chris Gibson
American Politician
When you talk about peace through strength, what you're talking about is the concept of deterrence.
Quote examples
John Spratt
American Politician
We have got thousands of nuclear weapons in order to achieve deterrence.
Quote examples
Joseph Rotblat
Polish Physicist
The present basic philosophy is nuclear deterrence.
Quote examples
Paul Bloom
Canadian Psychologist
Even in the most peaceful communities, an appetite for violence shows up in dreams, fantasies, sports, play, literature, movies and television. And, so long as we don't transform into angels, violence and the threat of violence - as in punishment and deterrence - is needed to rein in our worst instincts.
Quote examples
Yoshihiko Noda
Japanese Statesman
Japan's alliance with the U.S. will only grow in importance amid the increasingly difficult security situation surrounding our country, thus I think it is necessary to keep the marines in Okinawa, a geographically strategic location from the standpoint of maintaining deterrence.
Quote examples
Barbara Deming
American Author
Of course it can be said of jails, too, that they try - by punishing the troublesome - to deter others. No doubt, in certain instances this deterrence actually works. But generally speaking it fails conspicuously.
Quote examples
Natan Sharansky
Russian Writer
The only peace that can be made with a dictator is once that must be based on deterrence. For today, the dictator may be your friend, but tomorrow he will need you as an enemy.
Quote examples
John Bolton
American Statesman
When you have a regime that would be happier in the afterlife than in this life, this is not a regime that is subject to classic theories of deterrence.
Quote examples
Rick Wilson
American Author
The purpose of nuclear weapons is to deter. The mission of deterrence to make all parties in possession of nuclear weapons never, ever use them.
Quote examples
Kersti Kaljulaid
Estonian Politician
NATO's deterrence has always been adequate, and I'm not worried about the physical security of my country. Not at all.
Quote examples
Chris Gibson
American Politician
When you talk about peace through strength, what you're talking about is the concept of deterrence.
Quote examples
John Spratt
American Politician
We have got thousands of nuclear weapons in order to achieve deterrence.
Quote examples
Joseph Rotblat
Polish Physicist
The present basic philosophy is nuclear deterrence.
Example 1 of 10
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