A look at the strengths and weaknesses of Info Ops and Psy Ops

Both Information Operations and Psychological Operations have a place in any given war zone. By definition, IO is the integrated application of five major components – Electronic Warfare, Computer Network Operations, Psychological Operations, Deception, and Operations Security (Vandomme, 2010). As the US Department of Defense defines it, IO is a larger strategic, operational, and tactical exercise that views information as an element of combat power, and IO is conducted by commanders to apply it. IO is a means to achieve information superiority – defensive and offensive – over a military enemy (Department of the Army, 2003). This is done by influencing, disrupting, corrupting, or usurping the decision-making capabilities of adversaries, both current and potential (Vejvodová, 2019).

As a function of IO, Psy Ops focuses on communicating select information to foreign audiences, with the objective of influencing their emotions, motivations, and behaviours. The ultimate goal is to steer foreign attitudes toward a direction favourable to the interests of the military operator (Vandomme, 2010). Narula (2008) equates the psychological dimension of conflict to its physical tolls on affected communities, highlighting the importance and relevance of PsyOps especially in the age of information.

Knowing the separate objectives of IO and Psy Ops, we can explore further by dissecting the individual functions of each and discover their inherent advantages and vulnerabilities.

What is an Information Operation (InfoOp)?

Strengths

Multidimensional view for information in conflict

Information Operations view information as a tool that enables both offensive and defensive measures in military action. This expands the arsenal of armed forces and enables them to go beyond physical conflict in order to both inflict damage to their adversaries and protect their own operations. IO can also provide life-saving benefits that would otherwise not be available without using information as a virtual military weapon.

Wide range of channels and audiences

Because it is a larger operation than Psy Ops, IO makes it possible for military operations to reach a bigger audience through a wider range of channels. Conversely, it can also use said channels and technologies to gain insights on their audience and how to communicate with them effectively, based on what they consider to be important. Information advantage has been critical in galvanizing domestic and Western support for the defense of Ukraine, for example, and has contributed significantly to operational success (Davis, 2022).

Openness to nonstate actors

In the information confrontation, it is not just state actors such as military and security services that can execute IO. Nonstate actors can also play a role in supporting the effort through echoing and strengthening key messages from a military-led operation. In the ongoing Russo-Ukraine conflict, entities such as universities, businesses, and privately-owned media have joined the conversation to either correct the narrative or push Russian propaganda. This has counterproductive implications, however, as such nonstate actors can include patriots, ideological extremists, or terrorists. (Grise et al, 2022).

Weaknesses

Limited by the human mind

The effectiveness of any information campaign, no matter how well thought-out or brilliantly planned, will always be dictated by the cognitive limits of the target audience. Because executive cognitive functions are recent evolutionary traits, the human mind is still limited in completing logical or analytical tasks. To process large amounts of information, people use mental models as filtration shortcuts to make sense of the world around them. In the fog of war, cognitive biases become heightened, and the meaning of any informative communication can easily be misconstrued by the audience, achieving the opposite effect of what has been anticipated.

Narrow scope

While it can at times determine the winners and losers of a given conflict, the information environment occupies a very small area of the larger operational environment, which covers the domain of space, land, air, and maritime, as well as other physical areas and factors. IO is not the be-all and end-all of military tools, as there are plenty more factors and variables to consider in large-scale armed forces operations (Galanides, 2018).

Relevance in the information revolution

The evolution of technology, not the least that which surrounds information and communication, has reshaped human activity in the past decades, which may no longer align with previously established concepts of military thought. Many of the theoretical constructs surrounding IO need to be examined as instantaneous communications and feedback can now affect operations at the strategic and tactical levels, a phenomenon not seen before (Dearth, 2001).

What is a Psychological Operation (PsyOp)?

Strengths

Focus on credibility

Truthful information and clear facts are prioritized to ensure that communications to target audiences are credible and trustworthy. Peddling lies undermines the whole operation by discrediting the source and hampering effectiveness and success.

Promoting audience understanding

Psy Ops relies on target audience analysis as a critical tool to achieve audience understanding and deliver messages that resonate with them. This aspect considers multiple dimensions that influence the motivations and interests of audiences, such as history, society, and culture.

Adherence to the principles of planning

As a planned effort, Psy Ops considers timeliness, efficiency, and methods of ascertaining success through the framework of project management and planning. Communication is viewed as a process that can be adjusted based on the performance of initial measures and, therefore, can be steered toward a higher level of success through corrective action (Nevmerzhytskyi, 2019).

Weaknesses

Limited audience access

Prior to initial contact, Psy Ops have limited direct access to target audiences and, therefore, must rely on third-party sources to compensate. This can lead to misjudgments of audience motivations and derail the whole operation.

Quantifiability

The success of Psy Ops is difficult to measure quantitatively and requires an additional layer of evaluation planning that leverages inferential methods to determine the effectiveness of communication campaigns. Qualitative assessments will need to be relied on in the absence of hard data.

Credibility

Despite its objective adherence to credible information practices, Psy Ops suffer from a credibility issue as it is often likened to propagandist activity. From the perspective of locals in a war zone, Psy Ops are seen as transparent, deceptive efforts by military forces to aid them in their cause, which might not be perceived as in alignment with the wants and needs of the audience (Lamb, 2005).

References

Davis, C. (2022, March 11). 389. information advantage contribution to operational success. Mad Scientist Laboratory. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://madsciblog.tradoc.army.mil/389-information-advantage-contribution-to-operational-success/  

Dearth, D. H. (2001). Implications and Challenges of Applied Information Operations. Journal of Information Warfare, 1(1), 7–15. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26485919 

Department of the Army. (2003, November 28). Information Operations: Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures . Army Intelligence and security doctrine. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/  

Galanides, T. A. (2018, August 26). Shaping perceptions: Processes, advantages, and limitations of Information Operations. Small Wars Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/shaping-perceptions-processes-advantages-and-limitations-information-operations  

Lamb, C. J. (2005, September). Review of Psychological Operations Lessons Learned from Recent Operational Experience. Federation of American scientists. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://irp.fas.org/eprint/lamb.pdf  

Narula, S. (2008). Psychological operations (psyops): A conceptual overview. Strategic Analysis, 28(1), 177–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700160408450124  

Nevmerzhitsky, I. V. (2019). Procedure and principles of information and psychological operations in the north-atlantic alliance (based on NATO documents). Collection of Scientific Works of the Military Institute of Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, (65), 107–116. https://doi.org/10.17721/2519-481x/2019/65-13  

Vandomme, R. (2010). From intelligence to influence: The Role of Information Operations. Canadian Forces College. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/237/251/vandomme-eng.pdf  

Vejvodová, P. (2019). Information and Psychological Operations as a Challenge to Security and Defence. Vojenské Rozhledy. https://doi.org/10.3849/2336-2995