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This study explores how the death of a fellow soldier within one’s own unit affects tactical decision-making among military officers, with a focus on risk propensity. A scenario-based survey experiment was conducted with 40 officers from the Swedish Armed Forces. One group received a scenario involving a fatality, the other a version without such loss.

Officers in the experimental group more often chose high-risk options, expressed stronger decision certainty, and placed more emphasis on morale and cohesion. Using Naturalistic Decision Making, Prospect Theory and the Transactional Theory of Stress, the study shows that loss shapes not only what decisions are made, but also how and why.

The findings suggest that experiencing loss can increase risk acceptance, influenced by emotion, duty and a desire for control.