What is Psychological Warfare? - Definition, Techniques ...

Psychological warfare is a broad term, but in all documented cases, the concept uses actions intended to reduce an opponent's morale or mental ... forTeachers forSchools forWorkingScholars® forCollegeCredit LogIn SignUp Menu Plans Plans Courses Courses AcademicCourses BusinessCourses EnglishCourses HistoryCourses HumanitiesCourses MathCourses PsychologyCourses ScienceCourses SocialScienceCourses SpanishCourses AllCourses CollegeandProfessionalCourses CollegeCredit TransferCredit ProfessionalDevelopment Exploreover 4,600 videocourses BrowseAllCourses AcademicCourses CollegeandProfessionalCourses ByGrade ByGrade ElementarySchoolCourses MiddleSchoolCourses HighSchoolCourses CollegeCourses TransferCreditsCourses GraduateandPost-GradCourses AdultEducationCourses TestPrep TestPrep TeacherCertification TeacherCertification CollegeCreditandGraduateTests CollegeCreditandGraduateTests Nursing Nursing RealEstate RealEstate AllTestPreparationCourses PRAXIS TExES CSET/CBEST FTCE GACE AllTeacherCertificationTestPrepCourses CLEP DSST AP GRE HESI TEAS NCLEX RealEstateLicenses RealEstateSales RealEstateBrokers RealEstateAppraisal Teach Teach TeachingResourcesandCurriculum SkillsPractice LessonPlans TeacherCertification TeacherProfessionalDevelopment Tutoring Tutoring MathTutoring MathTutoring ScienceTutoring ScienceTutoring BusinessTutoring BusinessTutoring HumanitiesTutoring HumanitiesTutoring AlgebraTutoring CalculusTutoring GeometryTutoring Pre-calculusTutoring StatisticsTutoring TrigonometryTutoring AllMathTutoring BiologyTutoring ChemistryTutoring PhysicsTutoring AllScienceTutoring AccountingTutoring EconomicsTutoring FinanceTutoring AllBusinessTutoring HistoryTutoring LiteratureTutoring WritingTutoring AllHumanitiesTutoring SignUp AcademicCourses BusinessCourses EnglishCourses HistoryCourses HumanitiesCourses MathCourses PsychologyCourses ScienceCourses SocialScienceCourses SpanishCourses AllCourses CollegeandProfessionalCourses CollegeCredit TransferCredit ProfessionalDevelopment TeacherCertification PRAXIS TExES CSET/CBEST FTCE GACE AllTeacherCertificationTestPrepCourses CollegeReadiness CLEP DSST AP GRE Nursing HESI TEAS NCLEX RealEstate RealEstateLicenses RealEstateSales RealEstateBrokers RealEstateAppraisal MathTutoring AlgebraTutoring CalculusTutoring GeometryTutoring Pre-calculusTutoring StatisticsTutoring TrigonometryTutoring AllMathTutoring ScienceTutoring BiologyTutoring ChemistryTutoring PhysicsTutoring AllScienceTutoring BusinessTutoring AccountingTutoring EconomicsTutoring FinanceTutoring AllBusinessTutoring HumanitiesTutoring HistoryTutoring LiteratureTutoring WritingTutoring AllHumanitiesTutoring LessonTranscript Instructor: JenniferCarnevale Showbio Jennifertaught9thgradeELAandAPLiteratureforover8years.Shehasadualmaster'sinEnglishLiteratureandTeachingSecondaryEdfromSimmonsUniversityandaBSinPsychology.Sheisafull-timeseniorcontentwriterandcertifiedAPTestReader. Whilewarisprimarilyfoughtonabattlefield,therearealsobattlesfoughtinpeople'sminds,knownaspsychologicalwarfare.Learnaboutthedefinitionandtechniquesofpsychologicalwarfare,alongwithexamplesfromreal-worldconflicts. Updated:01/24/2022 Createanaccount TheInvisibleSoldierTheviolenceofwarisonething,butwhataboutanotherformofwarfarethatyoucan'tevensee?Thisistheactofpsychologicalwarfare.Watchontolearnaboutthedefinition,techniques,andsomehistoricalexamples. Anerroroccurredtryingtoloadthisvideo. Tryrefreshingthepage,orcontactcustomersupport. YoumustcCreateanaccounttocontinue watching Registertoviewthislesson Areyouastudentorateacher? Iamastudent Iamateacher CreateYourAccountToContinueWatching Asamember,you'llalsogetunlimitedaccesstoover84,000 lessonsinmath,English,science,history,andmore.Plus,getpracticetests,quizzes,andpersonalizedcoachingtohelpyou succeed. Getunlimitedaccesstoover84,000lessons. Tryitnow Itonlytakesafewminutestosetupandyoucancancelanytime. Alreadyregistered?Loginherefor access  Back Resourcescreatedbyteachersforteachers Over30,000videolessons &teachingresources‐all inoneplace. Videolessons Quizzes&Worksheets ClassroomIntegration LessonPlans IwoulddefinitelyrecommendStudy.comtomycolleagues.It’slikeateacherwavedamagicwandanddidtheworkforme.Ifeellikeit’salifeline. JenniferB. Teacher Tryitnow Back Comingupnext: JaneElliot'sBrownEyesvs.BlueEyesExperiment You'reonaroll.Keepupthegoodwork! TakeQuiz Watch NextLesson  Replay Justcheckingin.Areyoustillwatching? Yes!Keepplaying. Yournextlessonwillplayin 10seconds 0:04TheInvisibleSoldier 0:18WhatIsPsychologicalWarfare? 1:02Techniques 3:07Examples 5:03LessonSummary Save Save Save Wanttowatchthisagainlater? LoginorsignuptoaddthislessontoaCustomCourse. LoginorSignup Timeline Autoplay Autoplay Speed Speed 39Kviews Video Quiz Course 39K views WhatIsPsychologicalWarfare?Psychologicalwarfareisabroadterm,butinalldocumentedcases,theconceptusesactionsintendedtoreduceanopponent'smoraleormentalwellbeing.Theaimistousemanipulativetacticstointimidateorpersuadeapersonorpeople.Thisprocessisusuallyemployedthroughpropaganda.Propagandaisideasorstatementsthatarefalseorexaggeratedandisdeliberatelyspreadtoinfluencethemasses.Thegoalofpsychologicalwarfareistointentionallyusepropagandatomanipulateanotherandbreakdowntheirwillwithoutusingphysicalforce.Togetaclearerpicture,let'stakealookatsometechniquesthathavebeenusedthroughouthistory.TechniquesPsychologicalwarfareusesfeartobreakdownthepsychologicalwellbeingofanopponent.Hereareseveraltechniquesthatcanbeusedtospreadpsychologicaluncertainty,fear,andterror.NewsOutletsThenewsisalargeinformationsourcethatallcantapinto.Whetherit'sgovernmentrunorindependentlyowned,thenewshastheabilitytospreadwhicheverinformationitchooses.Byinfiltratinganewssource,apopulationcouldbetaintedbyvolatileinformation.ThreatsThreatsofviolence,restrictionsoffreedom,andcontrolcanbemadetoinstillfearinthepeople.Thesecouldbeemptythreatsorthreatswithtrueintention.Whateverthecase,threateningagrouporgroupsofpeoplecanpsychologicallydamagetherecipientsovertime,puttingtheminastateofconstantfear,anxiety,andterror.LeafletsLeafletsarepiecesofpaperwithmanipulativemessagesandpicturesthataredroppedfromtheairoverareasofwarorpoliticalunrest.Thegoalistopersuadetherecipientstoeithersupportoropposethepoliticaleventtakingplace.ObjectsUsingobjectssuchast-shirts,posters,hats,pins,andmoreisaneffectivewaytogetamessageacross.Theobjectscanbecomesymbolsforlargermessagesregardingpolitics,radicalbeliefs,religiousphilosophies,etc.Theseobjectscanbecometoolsforpromotionandevenworship.FalseflagAfalseflagiswhenagroupreleasesfalseinformationorcarriesoutafaketerrorattacktoinstillfearinpeople.However,theblameisputonanothergroupororganizationtogaincontroloverthemassesandshiftopinion.MediaWhileitmaynotseemlikeit,films,music,andbookscanactastoolsforpsychologicalwarfare.Themessagesinthemediacanrewritehistoryfromanewperspectiveand/orputnewideasinthemindsofthepopulous.ExamplesTherearemanyexamplesofpsychologicalwarfarethroughouthistory.Let'stakealookatafewandseehowpropagandaandpsychologicalattackshaveaffectedtheirvictims. LeafletswereusedduringWWIItomanipulatesoldiersintothinkingtheirwiveswerecheatingonthem.Bydroppingthesepapersonthebattlefields,soldierswouldseeeitherpicturesofromanticscenesorphrasesthatsuggestedinfidelitywhichcouldshaketheonethingpushingthemforwardonthebattlefield.Hitlerutilizedradios,microphones,andchargedrhetoricthatmadehimgod-liketohispeople.TheserepeatedmessagesworedownthepeopleofGermanywhoendedupsidingwiththedictator.TheAmericanmilitaryusedpropaganda,suchasfalseflags,totricktheGermansintothinkingtheywouldbeinacertainlocation.Byreportingfalseinformationovertheradio,theywoulddrivetheenemytroopsawayfromtheirtruelocation.TheU.S.governmenttriedtocontaincommunismbycreatingtheconceptofthedominoeffect,whichbecameusedaspropagandaduringthe1950s.TheU.S.governmentsaidifonecountrybecamecommunist,surelyotherswouldfollowsuit.TheU.S.usedthistheoryasawaytocontinuetopursuetheirpoliticalinterestsoverseas,whichinVietnam,resultedinbootsontheground.DuringtheColdWar,thebarofpsychologicalwarfarewasraisedtonewheights.TheU.S.increasedmilitaryspendingwhichcreatedaformofterrorduetothepossibilityofatomicweapons.Thisthreatechoedacrosstheglobe,includingintheU.S.itself.Moredeceptionwasusedwhenmilitaryleadersplayedwhitenoiseovermilitaryradiostotricktheirenemiesintothinkingencryptionwasbeingused.Thiswastedasignificantamountoftimeandeffortonallfronts,butmadethemajorityofmilitarygroupsacrosstheglobefearthereweremissedmessages.LessonSummaryTherearemanywaysinwhichpsychologicalwarfarecanbeused.Psychologicalwarfareisdefinedasactionsintendedtoreduceanopponent'smoraleormentalwellbeing.Thistypeofattackisusuallycarriedoutthroughpropaganda,ideasorstatementsthatarefalseorexaggerateddeliberately,spreadtoinfluencethemasses.Whetherthetechniqueisthroughphysicalobjectsorleaflets,orthoughthemediaandradiowaves,psychologicalwarfareisaimedatagrouporgroupsofpeopletoinstillfearorbias,ascanbeseenbythemajorityofwarfaretacticsthroughouthistory.Thetrendshaveprogressedovertimethroughpresent-dayterrorattacksandwayswarisplayedacrosstheglobe. TounlockthislessonyoumustbeaStudy.comMember. Createyouraccount Registertoviewthislesson Areyouastudentorateacher? Iamastudent Iamateacher UnlockYourEducation Seeforyourselfwhy30millionpeopleuseStudy.com BecomeaStudy.commemberandstartlearningnow. BecomeaMember Alreadyamember?LogIn  Back Resourcescreatedbyteachersforteachers Over30,000videolessons &teachingresources‐all inoneplace. Videolessons Quizzes&Worksheets ClassroomIntegration LessonPlans IwoulddefinitelyrecommendStudy.comtomycolleagues.It’slikeateacherwavedamagicwandanddidtheworkforme.Ifeellikeit’salifeline. JenniferB. Teacher Tryitnow Back Createanaccount WhatisPsychologicalWarfare?-Definition,Techniques&Examples Starttoday.Tryitnow SocialSciencesLessonPlans&Resources 12chapters| 274lessons {{courseNav.course.topics.length}}chapters| {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}lessons |{{course.flashcardSetCount}} flashcardset{{course.flashcardSetCoun>1?'s':''}} Ch1. CriminalJusticeLessonPlans Goto CriminalJusticeLessonPlans Ch2. AnthropologyEssayTopics&Lesson... Goto AnthropologyEssayTopics&LessonPlans Ch3. Gender&SexismLessonPlans Goto Gender&SexismLessonPlans Ch4. MulticulturalismLessonPlans Goto MulticulturalismLessonPlans Ch5. BlackHistoryMonthLessonPlans&... Goto BlackHistoryMonthLessonPlans&Resources Ch6. FamousPsychologistsLesson... Goto FamousPsychologistsLessonPlans Ch7. PsychologyLessonPlans SocialPsychologyLessonPlan PsychologyScienceFairProjectsforHighSchool Naturevs.NurtureLessonPlan ClassicalConditioningLessonPlan AbstractThinkingLessonPlan CompassionLessonPlan PsychologyofCultsLessonPlan HypnosisLessonPlan ConsciousnessLessonPlan InsidetheTeenageBrainFrontlineDiscussionQuestions GuidedImageryLessonPlan GuidedImagery:Definition&Examples PositivePsychologyLessonPlan GroupDynamicsLessonPlan PersonalityinPsychologyLessonPlan Needs&WantsLessonPlan Wantsvs.NeedsinPsychology 4:07 HelpingOthersLessonPlan PsychologyofHelpingOthers PersonalityTraitsLessonPlan CultofPersonalityLessonPlan WhatisaCultofPersonality?-Definition&Examples 4:39 PersonalityTypesLessonPlan Personality&PersonalityTypes:Examples&Descriptions 6:36 PsychologicalWarfareLessonPlan WhatisPsychologicalWarfare?-Definition,Techniques&Examples 5:49 NextLesson JaneElliot'sBrownEyesvs.BlueEyesExperiment LearnedHelplessnessLessonPlan Declarativevs.ProceduralKnowledgeLessonPlan CognitiveSkillsinChildrenLessonPlan ActivitiesofDailyLivingLessonPlan CauseandEffectLessonPlan MultipleIntelligencesLessonPlan Maslow'sHierarchyofNeedsLessonPlan ESPLessonPlan FamilyLife&SystemsLessonPlan BreakingSocialNormsProjectIdeas Naturevs.NurtureDiscussionQuestions APPsychologyFinalProjectIdeas BrainProjectIdeasforPsychology ClassicalConditioningProjectIdeas AbnormalPsychologyDiscussionQuestions DiscussionQuestionsaboutPhobias TheLuciferEffect:UnderstandingHowGoodPeopleTurnEvilDiscussionQuestions Myers-BriggsActivitiesforStudents PersonalityMaskProjectIdeas Goto PsychologyLessonPlans Ch8. MentalHealthDisordersLesson... Goto MentalHealthDisordersLessonPlans Ch9. SociologyLessonPlans Goto SociologyLessonPlans Ch10. SociologyEssayTopics Goto SociologyEssayTopics Ch11. PsychologyEssayTopics Goto PsychologyEssayTopics Ch12. PhilosophyLessonPlans Goto PhilosophyLessonPlans WhatisPsychologicalWarfare?-Definition,Techniques&ExamplesRelatedStudyMaterials RecommendedLessonsandCoursesforYou RelatedLessons RelatedCourses RelatedLessons Iran-IraqWarCauses,Overview&Timeline|WhoWontheIran-IraqWar? TypesofMassBehavior:Definitions&Examples JournalismCodeofEthicsOverview&Importance|WhatareJournalismEthics? Causes&ConflictsoftheIndo-PakistaniWars ModelsofAging:Definitions&Types LifeInfluencesonCognitiveDevelopmentinEarlyAdulthood PropagandaTypes&Examples|WhatisPropaganda? TheInfluenceofSeaPoweruponHistory:Summary&Quotes KoreanWarCauses,Timeline&Effects|WhenwastheKoreanWar? ProfessionalCodesofEthicsinPublicRelations PersuasionMethods&Types|WhatarePersuasiveTechniques? WhatIsTerrorism?-Definition,History,Types&Statistics UnderstandingtheBalanceofPower,Polarity&CollectiveSecurityinWorldConflicts KosovoGenocideConflicts&WarCrimes|WhatCausedtheKosovoGenocide? VietnamWar|Causes,Effects&Summary WhatisTerrorism?|Types&HistoryofTerrorism PhysicalDevelopmentandHealthinEarlyAdulthood Rogers'DiffusionofInnovationTheory|Model,History&Overview "Americanah"byChimamandaNgoziAdichie|Summary&Themes MassMediaResearchConcept&Examples|WhatisMassMediaResearch? RelatedCourses PraxisSociology(5952)Prep ILTSSocialScience-Psychology(248):TestPracticeandStudyGuide HumanGrowthandDevelopment:TutoringSolution SocialPsychology:TutoringSolution AbnormalPsychology:TutoringSolution DevelopmentalPsychology:CertificateProgram HighSchoolPsychologyTextbook GerontologyforTeachers:ProfessionalDevelopment SociologyforTeachers:ProfessionalDevelopment IntroductiontoSociologyTextbook AbnormalPsychologyTextbook SocialPsychologyTextbook HumanGrowthandDevelopmentTextbook EducationalPsychologyTextbook IntrotoPsychologyTextbook PsychotherapyApproaches:Help&Review GACESchoolPsychology(605):Practice&StudyGuide UExcelCulturalDiversity:StudyGuide&TestPrep CertifiedRehabilitationCounselor(CRC)Exam:StudyGuide&Practice CertifiedCaseManager(CCM)Exam:StudyGuide&Practice RelatedTopics BrowsebyCourses PraxisCoreAcademicSkillsforEducators-Writing(5723):StudyGuide&Practice PraxisCoreAcademicSkillsforEducators:Reading(5713)Prep ILTSTAP-TestofAcademicProficiency(400):Practice&StudyGuide PraxisWorld&U.S.History-ContentKnowledge(5941):Practice&StudyGuide PraxisSociology(5952)Prep FTCEGeneralKnowledgeTest(GK)(082)Prep PraxisSocialStudies:ContentKnowledge(5081)Prep PraxisChemistry:ContentKnowledge(5245)Prep PraxisBusinessEducation:ContentKnowledge(5101)Prep HighSchoolPsychology:HomeschoolCurriculum HighSchoolPsychology:CreditRecovery LifeSpanDevelopmentalPsychology:TutoringSolution DSSTFoundationsofEducation:StudyGuide&TestPrep IntrotoPsychology:HelpandReview UExcelPsychologyofAdulthood&Aging:StudyGuide&TestPrep BrowsebyLessons FTCEGeneralKnowledgeTestEssayTopics HowtoPasstheFTCEGeneralKnowledgeTest UsingMeasurementtoSolveReal-WorldProblems DrawingConclusionsfromSampleSurveys TheImpactofaCountry'sInfrastructureonBusinesses StudentOrganizations&AdvisorsinBusinessEducation StayingActiveinTeacherOrganizationsforBusinessEducation CarlPerkins'EffectonTechnicalEducationLegislation TheBusinessEducator'sRelationshipwithSchools&Communities Work-BasedLearninginBusinessEducation ActivitiesforKidswithADHD ChildrenTalkingtoThemselves WholeBrainTeaching:Rules&Strategies Evidence-BasedPracticeinEducation FERPAforTeachers:Laws&Guidelines Createanaccounttostartthiscoursetoday Usedbyover30millionstudentsworldwide Createanaccount Likethislesson Share Exploreourlibraryofover84,000 lessons Search Browse Browsebysubject CollegeCourses Business English ForeignLanguage History Humanities Math Science SocialScience SeeAllCollegeCourses HighSchoolCourses AP CommonCore GED HighSchool SeeAllHighSchoolCourses OtherCourses College&CareerGuidanceCourses CollegePlacementExams EntranceExams GeneralTestPrep K-8Courses SkillsCourses TeacherCertificationExams SeeAllOtherCourses Upgradetoenroll × Enrollinginacourseletsyouearnprogressbypassingquizzesandexams. Trackcourseprogress Takequizzesandexams Earncertificatesofcompletion Youwillalsobeableto: CreateaGoal Createcustomcourses Getyourquestionsanswered UpgradetoPremiumtoaddallthesefeaturestoyouraccount! UpgradeNow UpgradetoPremiumtoaddallthesefeaturestoyouraccount! ×