Psychological Warfare: Strategies and Tactics in Modern Conflict

By Fouad Sabry

What is Psychological Warfare

Psychological warfare (PSYWAR), or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations (PsyOp), has been known by many other names or terms, including Military Information Support Operations (MISO), Psy Ops, political warfare, "Hearts and Minds", and propaganda. The term is used "to denote any action which is practiced mainly by psychological methods with the aim of evoking a planned psychological reaction in other people".

How you will benefit

(I) Insights, and validations about the following topics:

Chapter 1: Psychological Warfare

Chapter 2: Propaganda

Chapter 3: Office of Strategic Influence

Chapter 4: Black propaganda

Chapter 5: Political Warfare Executive

Chapter 6: United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command

Chapter 7: 15 Psychological Operations Group

Chapter 8: Airborne leaflet propaganda

Chapter 9: Psychological Warfare Division

Chapter 10: Information Operations Roadmap

(II) Answering the public top questions about psychological warfare.

Who this book is for

Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of Psychological Warfare.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Billion Knowledgeable
• Release date: May 27, 2024

Book preview

Chapter 1: Psychological warfare

Political warfare, Hearts and Minds, Psy Ops, Military Information Support Operations (MISO), and propaganda are just a few of the numerous titles or concepts that have been used to refer to psychological warfare (PSYWAR) or the fundamental components of contemporary psychological operations (PsyOp).

A target audience's value system, belief system, emotions, motives, reasoning, or behavior may be influenced through a variety of tactics. It is sometimes used in conjunction with black ops or false flag tactics to force confessions or to promote attitudes and behaviors beneficial to the originator's intentions. It is also employed to undermine enemy morale by employing strategies that try to demoralize troops.

Warlords and leaders have understood the value of lowering their adversaries' morale since the dawn of time. Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire fought each other in the Battle of Pelusium (525 BC), during which the Persian forces used cats and other animals as psychological warfare against the Egyptians, who avoided murdering cats out of respect for religion and superstition.

The other side of psychological warfare was currying favor with supporters, and Alexander the Great was a pioneer in this field. Alexander the Great successfully conquered large portions of Europe and the Middle East and held onto his territorial gains by assimilating local elites into Greek society and culture. Some of Alexander's soldiers remained in each city he conquered to spread Greek culture and suppress opposing viewpoints. To promote assimilation, he provided dowries to his men to marry natives.

Less subtle strategies were used by Genghis Khan, who ruled the Mongolian Empire in the 13th century AD. Instead of having to face the enemy's anger, it was preferable to defeat his will beforehand and come to an agreement on a settlement. The early conquered settlements were demanded to submit to the Khan, and if they refused, the Mongol generals threatened to completely destroy them. The Mongol generals carried out their warnings and murdered the surviving if they had to engage in combat to capture the settlement. Stories about the advancing horde reached the nearby communities, where they instilled a sense of unease that reduced the likelihood of further resistance.

Another strategy used by the Mongols to terrify the populace and spread sickness within the walls of the besieged city was the catapulting of severed human heads. Specifically, the later Turko-Mongol chieftain employed this.

In his conflicts with the Byzantine Empire, the Muslim caliph Omar dispatched intermittent streams of minor reinforcements to give the impression that a larger force would ultimately gather if not quickly defeated.

The Vacant Fort Strategy was utilized in 1st century AD China during the early Qin and late Eastern Zhou dynasties to deceive the enemy into thinking that a location was empty when it wasn't in order to stop them from invading it by utilizing reverse psychology. This strategy also depended on luck, should the adversary think the area poses a threat to them.

By fattening up a pair of mules and forcing the Lydian monarch Alyattes out of the besieged city in the sixth century BCE, the Greek Bias of Priene successfully withstood him. Then, when Alyattes' envoy was dispatched to Priene, Bias had sand mounds covered in wheat to create the appearance of abundant wealth.

In order to convince besiegers that there were plenty of supplies, defenders throughout castles or towns under siege would throw food over the walls. This trick seems to have been common in medieval Europe. The legend of Lady Carcas, who is said to have used this tactic to convince the Franks to cease a five-year siege and as a result given Carcassonne its name, is one such instance from the eighth century.

Prior to the Battle of Manila, Spanish captain Juan de Salcedo received information about the pirate raids and ordered his rescue force to approach the city at night while playing music and carrying torches in loose formations so they would appear to be a much larger army to any surrounding enemies. Uncontested, they arrived in the city.

Peter Tordenskjold used military deception against the Swedes during the Attack on Marstrand. Although untrue, he appears to have been successful in spreading false information to his enemies and made his tiny army appear larger, similar to World War II's Operations Fortitude and Titanic.

Most historians date the advent of contemporary psychological warfare to World War I. At that time, mass media in the form of widely read newspapers and posters was available, and Western nations were becoming more educated and urbanized. It was also possible to spread propaganda to the enemy by using explosive delivery mechanisms such modified mortar or artillery rounds or flying leaflets.

The warring parties started disseminating propaganda at the outset, particularly the British and Germans at home and on the Western front. The British were able to prevail in the struggle for public opinion because they possessed a number of advantages, including one of the most reputable news organizations in the world, extensive experience in intercultural and international communication, and control over a significant portion of the then-existing