The fundamental difficulty entangled in the preceding consideration is the question of whether to engage in strategic behavior that is competitive or cooperative. Current negotiation theory has shown the greater advantages that can be gained by cooperative behavior. Only cooperation can enable both parties to learn and work together to meet the interests of all, and to maximize gain. A legitimate cause for hesitation in proceeding down the cooperative path is the view that one’s counterparty is motivated by a purely competitive strategy or driven by ill will. The bind implicit in this assessment is that ill will or competitive approaches might change if one takes a risk and extends the olive branch. It takes courage and the ability to take a short term loss to make this long term advance.