Psychological warfare

The term psychological warfare is used to describe methods that military use in war-time. We may understand it as an attempt to influence the behavior/beliefs of enemy armed forces and/or foreign civilian populations. Psychological warfare has many similarities with propaganda messages.

Term

US Army PSYOP specialist sets up a loudspeaker system to broadcast messages to the local people of Narizah, Afghanistan

The term "pychological warfare" has always been considered problematic and offensive. The use of military power is increasingly not any more on the level of an local armored conflict, but on the global basis using mass media. The NATO uses the term "psychological operation" (PSYOP).

People are trying not to use the term "psychological warfare". They would rather use terms like "stabilisation" or "satisfaction".

History

Psychological warfare has mostly been introduced in the second world war. Both Axis Powers and Allied used it.

• The United States and United Kingdom used the famous German expatriate to appeal to the German population through broadcast.

Related pages

• Ad hominem
• Divide and conquer
• Hate speech
• Identity politics
• Military
• Pork barrel
• Propaganda
• Psychology
• Red herring
• Smear campaign
• War

References

• Paul Linebarger: Psychological Warfare. Ayer, 1972. ISBN 978-0-405-04755-8
• Günther Wirth: Krieg vor dem Kriege. Streiflichter auf Inhalt und Methoden der psychologischen Kriegführung des Imperialismus, Berlin, Union Verlag 1978 (German)