Psychological Operations

The document Joint Publication 3-53: Doctrine for Joint Psychological Operations by the "Joint Chiefs of Staff" 5 September 2003 (pdf) states that:

"Psychological operations (PSYOP) are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence the emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individuals. PSYOP are a vital part of the broad range of US diplomatic, informational, military, and economic activities. PSYOP characteristically are delivered as information for effect, used during peacetime and conflict, to inform and influence."

Categories of military PSYOP

The document also reveals that:

"There are three categories of military PSYOP, strategic, operational, and tactical, which are used to establish and reinforce foreign perceptions of US military, political, and economic power and resolve.

• Strategic PSYOP are international information activities conducted by US Government (USG) agencies to influence foreign attitudes, perceptions, and behavior in favor of US goals and objectives during peacetime and in times of conflict. These programs are conducted predominantly outside the military arena but can 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 commander’s (JFC’s) campaigns and strategies.
• Tactical PSYOP are conducted in the area assigned a tactical commander across the range of military operations to support the tactical mission against opposing forces.

Headlines

• 2006-01-27: US plans to 'fight the net' revealed
  • "A newly declassified document gives a fascinating glimpse into the US military's plans for "information operations" - from psychological operations, to attacks on hostile computer networks."