Psychiatrist-writer Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that psychological warfare is defined as “the use of information to change people's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors both in war and in peace,” points out that weapons and methods used in wars will undergo significant changes due to technological advancements. In his book 'Psychological Warfare,' written in 2002, Tarhan alludes to today, emphasizing that dominance will shift from weapons and physical power to information and technology. The author states, “Those who possess information and technology and apply it best will succeed in governing. Countries with high technology will prepare their military headquarters for wars; information, not bullets, will now be used in wars. Technology will determine who wins the war. In the wars of the future, soldiers will be warriors of advanced technology.”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, in his book "Psychological Warfare," written in 2002 and now in its 26th edition, makes striking evaluations regarding the unknowns of the psychological warfare concept.
Information is important in psychological warfare…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that psychological warfare is defined as “achieving results by influencing people's state of mind in winning or losing a war in the classical sense, maintaining superiority after the war, or solving problems.” Tarhan also noted that psychological warfare is defined as the use of information to change people's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors both in war and in peace.
Psychological laws must be known for correct decisions
In his book, Tarhan points out that psychological warfare has 4 tactics: strategic, tactical, reinforcing, and provocation, and states that the desire for dominance has always existed in human psychology. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan says, “Individuals or groups who want to maintain control try to do so within or outside moral boundaries. The feeling of dominance is a universal emotion. Successfully managing this emotion justly and correctly has been achieved by very few leaders in history. Whether in a family, company management, or country governance, if certain psychological laws are known, correct decisions will be made and correct methods will be applied.”
The first step in psychological warfare is to know your adversary and yourself well!
Emphasizing that those who do not know their enemy will be defeated in war, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan states, “Just as one who knows neither himself nor his enemy is defeated in war and cannot recover afterward, one who knows himself but not his enemy can achieve success after the war. However, a power that knows both itself and its enemy has almost no chance of being defeated. A power that knows its enemy well but does not know itself has a very high chance of being defeated in war. The first step in psychological warfare is to know your adversary and yourself well. The second step is to skillfully use methods of pressure and persuasion to induce psychological collapse in the opposing side.”
Propaganda is used instead of threats and intimidation…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan adds that there have been three periods in human history: the era of slavery, the era of labor, and the current era of freedom. “In the era of freedom, centers of power began to use propaganda more often, instead of methods of oppression, threats, and intimidation, to maintain control. Today, dominance has shifted from weapons and physical power to information and technology. Those who possess information and technology and apply it best will succeed in governing. The military headquarters of the USA and other Western countries with high technology are preparing for the wars of the future. In these wars, information, not bullets, will be used. Technology will determine who wins the war.”
Weapons and tactics will change in future wars
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan points out that when he wrote the book in 2002, he noted that significant changes could occur in future wars. Alluding to today's wars from those years, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan states, “Instead of tens of thousands of soldiers, planes, naval fleets, cannons, and tanks, there will be a small number of soldiers equipped with smart microchips, operating with computers, possessing advanced technology weapons, along with unmanned aerial vehicles that can fire laser beams at enemy targets and mini explosives. Staff officers working with virtual war tactics are aware of how important it is to possess more information.”
Effective propaganda, appropriate methods, and planned implementation!
In its latest edition, Prof. Dr. Tarhan's book also includes a scale for voter behavior. He points out that in future wars, military experts with more information will work to change the emotions, actions, beliefs, thoughts, and worldviews of friendly and enemy communities. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan says, “There is only one goal here, and that is to support the success of the war. To achieve this result, there are three important things to do. These are effective propaganda, developing appropriate methods, and implementing them with a plan.”
The most powerful weapon is not bombs but precise and accurate information!
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that “in the wars of the future, soldiers will be warriors of advanced technology,” emphasizes that the most powerful weapons are not bombs, but precise and accurate information, and therefore, the quality of soldiers, not their number, is paramount.
The book also thoroughly addresses psychological warfare methods against those subjected to psychological warfare.