Psyops 101 - Psychological Operations and How to spot them.

Apr 12, 2022

Hey folks!

I’ve been seeing a lot of talk about psyops. So, I thought I would take a moment to write a quick guide to psyops, or psychological operations. It hurts me so bad even today that people are subject to this, and still fall for it..

What are psyops?

Psyops are essentially the use of psychological techniques to achieve a desired political or military goal. This can include everything from propaganda and disinformation to false flag operations and mind control.

In the past, psyops have been used to great effect in times of war, to boost morale or discourage the enemy, but they have become increasingly prevalent in the digital age. With the rise of social media, psyops have become a powerful tool for manipulating public opinion (way public opinion or discredit an opponent, for example..).

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to psyops. First, they are designed to exploit human weaknesses. This means that they can be very difficult to resist. Second, they are often used to achieve goals that are not in the best interest of the general public. This is why it’s important to be aware of them and to think critically about the information that you’re consuming.

It’s important to be aware of psyops, because they can have a very real and harmful effect on individuals and society as a whole. In the current political climate, I think it’s especially important to be aware of them, so we can make informed decisions and protect ourselves from being manipulated.

Psyops are a very real and present danger in the current political climate. With the rise of social media, it’s become easier than ever for people to spread disinformation and manipulation. I think it’s important to be aware of this and to make sure that we’re getting our information from reliable sources.

Common sense, but some common psyops tactics include:

-Disinformation: planting false information in enemy territory in order to sow confusion and mistrust.

-Propaganda: using media to spread pro-war messages or anti-enemy sentiment.

-Threats and intimidation: making threats or issuing ultimatums in order to force the enemy to capitulate.

-Psychological manipulation: using techniques like fear, guilt, or provocation to trigger emotional responses in enemy soldiers or civilians.

How to spot a psyop?

So how can you spot a psyop? Here are a few red flags to look out for:

1. Exaggerated or emotional language.

Psyops are designed to evoke an emotional response. So if a post is full of inflammatory language or hyperbole, it’s a good sign that it’s trying to manipulate your emotions.

2. Outrageous claims.

Does the story seem too good to be true? Does it make you so angry that you can’t think straight? Chances are, it’s probably not true. Or at least, it’s been embellished to make you more likely to share it.

3. Shaky evidence.

Is the “evidence” in the post vague or unverifiable? Are the sources untrustworthy? If so, it’s probably not worth your time (or your social media followers’).

4. A lack of context.

Psyops often take things out of context in order to make them seem more shocking or alarming than they really are. So if a post doesn’t give you enough information to understand what’s going on, beware.

5. An agenda.

Does the post seem to be pushing a certain political agenda? Is it trying to get you to support a particular cause? If so, it’s likely a psyop.

Psyops are becoming more and more common, so it’s important to be able to spot them. The next time you see a post that makes your blood boil, take a step back and ask yourself: is this a psyop?

Resources

If you’re interested in learning more about psyops, I highly recommend checking out some of the following resources:

These are just a few of the many excellent resources available on this topic. I encourage you to do your own research and to think critically about the information you’re consuming.

Thanks for reading! I hope this has been helpful~ <3

Lillie ΘΔ (@hytracer)