Psychological warfare
The U.S. Department of Defense defines Psychological warfare (PSYWAR) as:
- "The planned use of propaganda and other psychological actions having the primary purpose of influencing the opinions, emotions, attitudes, and behavior of hostile foreign groups in such a way as to support the achievement of national objectives."
Methods
- Distributing leaflets, eg in the Gulf War, encouraging desertion
- propaganda radio stations, such as Lord Haw-Haw in World War Two on the Germany calling station
- Renaming cities and other places when captured, such as Baghdad airport
- shock and awe military strategy
- terrorism (in addition to the physical effect of the violence it often aims to instill fear, which is psychological warfare)
