Representational bias is where individuals compare the similarity of a current situation to previous situations and evaluate the likelihood of potential consequences. The more similar the situations, the more similar the consequences and their impact are likely to be. Since Able Archer was a routine operation, US analysts believed that the Soviets would continue with their usual response of exclusively monitoring the operation. However, this was clearly not the case due to the depth of Soviet fear, and even when presented with evidence that the Soviets were preparing their air forces, the Reagan administration dismissed the reaction. Because US officials believed that Soviet perceptions, intentions, and actions during previous Able Archer exercises were the same as in the 1983 operation, and that the results would also be the same, US intelligence fell into the trap of bias representative and failed to appropriately interpret the operation. intelligence products that highlight the danger of the new