What is aimed with psychological warfare?

Stating that psychological warfare is defined as "the use of information to change people's feelings, thoughts and behaviors both in war and peace states," Psychiatrist and author Prof. Nevzat Tarhan highlighted the fact that the weapons and methods used in wars will undergo a great change depending on the developments in technology. In his book "Psychological Warfare", which he wrote in 2002, Tarhan points out today and emphasizes that the dominance will be out of the power of arms and will pass into the hands of information and technology. The author states that “Those who have the knowledge and technology and apply it best will be able to dominate. Countries with high technology will prepare their military headquarters for wars, information will now be used in wars instead of bullets. Technology will determine who wins the war. In the wars of the future, the soldier will be a warrior of advanced technology.”.

President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan makes a remarkable evaluation regarding the unknowns of the concept of psychological warfare in his book "Psychological Warfare", which he wrote in 2002 and is now in its 26^th edition.

Knowledge is important in psychological warfare…

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that psychological warfare is defined as "taking results in winning or losing the war in the classical sense or solving problems by influencing people's moods, maintaining supremacy after the war". Tarhan also noted that psychological warfare is defined as the use of information to change people's feelings, thoughts and behaviors both in war and peace states.

The laws of psychology should be known for the right decisions

Tarhan states in his book that there is always the desire to dominate in human psychology by pointing out that psychological warfare has 4 tactics as strategic, tactical, reinforcement and provocation. Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that “An individual or individuals who want to keep control try to maintain it by staying within or outside the moral limits. The feeling of dominance is a universal feeling. Being able to manage this feeling fairly and correctly has been seen in very few leaders in history. Whether in family, company management or country management, the right decisions will be made and the right methods will be applied if some psychology laws are known.”.

The first step of psychological warfare is to know your opponent and yourself well!

Emphasizing that those who do not know their enemy will be defeated in war, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that “Those who do not know both themselves and their enemies cannot recover after the war as they were defeated in the war. A person who does not know their enemy but knows themselves can achieve success after the war. The power that knows both itself and its enemy seems unlikely to be defeated. The power that does not know itself but knows its enemy well is likely to be defeated in battle. The first step of psychological warfare is to know your opponent and yourself well. The second step is to create a psychological depression on the other side by skillfully using the methods of pressure and persuasion.”.

Propaganda is used instead of threats and intimidation…

Stating that there are three periods in the history of humanity, these are the period of slavery, the period of labor and the period of freedom experienced today. Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that “In the period of freedom, power groups started to use more propaganda instead of pressure, threat and intimidation methods to keep control. Today, domination has passed into the hands of information and technology, instead of the power of arms. Those who have knowledge and technology and apply it best will be able to dominate. The military headquarters of the USA and other western countries, which have high technology, are preparing for the wars of the future. In these wars, knowledge will be used instead of bullets. Technology will determine who wins the war.”.

Weapons and tactics will change in the wars of the future

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized the fact that there may be important changes in future wars when he wrote the book in 2002. Pointing to today's wars from those years, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, “In place of tens of thousands of soldiers, aircraft, naval fleets, cannons and tanks, there will be a small number of soldiers equipped with smart microchips, computer-operated, with high-tech weapons, unmanned flying planes that can shoot at enemy targets with laser beams, and mini-explosives. Staff officers working with virtual warfare tactics realize how important it is to have more information.”.

To implement effective propaganda with appropriate method and planning!

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan included the scale for voter behavior in the last edition of his book. Prof. Tarhan pointed out the fact that the military expert staff, who now have more knowledge in future wars, will work to change the feelings, actions, beliefs, thoughts and life views of friendly and enemy communities. Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that “There is only one purpose here, and that is to support the success of the war. There are three important things to do to achieve this result. These are effective propaganda, developing appropriate methods and planning and implementing them.”.

The most powerful weapon is not the bombs, but accurate and precise information!

Stating that "The soldier will be the warrior of advanced technology in the wars of the future," Prof. Nevzat Tarhan indicated the fact that the most powerful weapon is not bombs, but accurate and precise information, and that the quality of the soldier is at the forefront, not the number.

The book also deals with psychological warfare methods against those who are exposed to psychological warfare in detail.

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)