Psychological Operations (United States) Psychological operations (PSYOP) or, officially since 2010, Military Information Support Operations (MISO)[1] are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals.[2] The purpose of United States psychological operations is to induce or reinforce behavior favorable to US objectives. They are an important part of the range of diplomatic, informational, military, and economic activities available to the US. They can be utilized during both peacetime and conflict. There are three main types: strategic, operational, and tactical. Strategic PSYOP include informational activities conducted by the US government agencies outside of the military arena, though many utilize Department of Defense (DOD) assets. Operational PSYOP are conducted across the range of military operations, including during peacetime, in a defined operational area to promote the effectiveness of the joint force commanders (JFC) campaigns and strategies. Tactical PSYOP are conducted in the area assigned to a tactical commander across the range of military operations to support the tactical mission against opposing forces. PSYOP can encourage popular discontent with the oppositions leadership and by combining persuasion with a credible threat, degrade an adversarys ability to conduct or sustain military operations. They can also disrupt, confuse, and protract the adversarys decision-making process, undermining command and control.[3] When properly employed, PSYOP have the potential to save the lives of friendly or enemy forces by reducing the adversarys will to fight. By lowering the adversarys morale and then its efficiency, PSYOP can also discourage aggressive actions by creating disaffection within their ranks, ultimately leading to surrender.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 08:59:36 +0000
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