Glossary
- Psychological operations (PSYOPS):
- Planned operations that convey selected information to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning and, ultimately, the behavior of organizations, groups and individuals, using print, audio and visual media to act as a nonlethal force multiplier.
- Capabilities and goals:
- Project a favorable image of U.S. and allied forces; inform target audiences in new or denied areas; amplify the effects of a show of force; assess attitudes and impressions; give opponent audiences alternative courses of action; overcome censorship, illiteracy or interrupted communications; exploit ethnic, cultural, religious or economic differences; support deception operations.
- Media:
- Print (newspapers, handbills, leaflets, posters, pamphlets); audio (radio, loudspeakers); video (television, movies); Internet.
- Tactical PSYOPS:
- Conducted in the area assigned to a tactical commander across the range of military operations to support the tactical mission against opposing forces.
- Operational PSYOPS:
- Conducted in an operational theater to promote the effectiveness of the joint force commanders' campaigns and strategies using all forms of media to reach a larger audience.
- Strategic PSYOPS:
- International activities by U.S. government agencies to influence foreign attitudes, perceptions and behavior in favor of its goals and objectives during peacetime and conflict. Conducted predominantly outside the military arena, but can utilize Defense assets. Military PSYOPS with potential strategic impact must be coordinated with national efforts.
- "Commando Solo":
- Specially equipped EC-130 aircraft that act as airborne platforms for PSYOPS or civil affairs broadcasting on TV and radio bands.
- Overt ("White") Psyops:
- Truthful messages coming from a clearly identifiable source, aimed at building credibility.
- Covert ("Black") Psyops:
- Messages purportedly coming from one source, but are in fact transmitted by another and are false in nature.
- Black Propaganda:
- False information, ostensibly from a friendly source, but actually from an enemy, used to prompt a desired outcome.
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