Overview In survival contexts, pressure is defined not only by intensity, but also by duration. Prolonged exposure to uncertainty, limited information, and constrained resources continuously demands the use of cognitive systems that are not designed to operate indefinitely at a high level of alertness. As stress accumulates, decision-making becomes inconsistent, attention deteriorates, and behavior becomes reactive. Under these conditions, survival becomes more dependent on maintaining a functional pattern of behavior over time than on individual decisions. Routine under pressure addresses this problem by reducing cognitive demand. Rather than relying on moment-to-moment judgment, structured behavior distributes effort predictably, enabling essential tasks to be completed even when mental performance deteriorates. This is not a matter of discipline or preference, but rather, it is a matter of operational efficiency under stress. How stress affects decision-making in...