JP-9 HEADQUARTERS INTEGRATED DEFENCE STAFF
JOINT DOCTRINE FOR PERCEPTION MANAGEMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS
© No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by print, photo, photocopy, microfilm or other means without written permission of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Kashmir House, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi -110011
March 2010 CHAIRMAN CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE
General Deepak Kapoor, COSC Secretariat South PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, Chief of the Block New Delhi 110011 Comments: Comments, if any, may be forwarded to Army Staff & Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Doctrine Directorate Doctrine, Organisation and Training (DOT) Branch Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Kashmir House, Rajaji Marg New Delhi - 110011
Foreword
Illustrations : All photographs published have been collected from Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff records and other unclassified military publications. Conflict is a struggle of wills, which takes place in peoples' minds
as well as on the battlefield. Conflict is also a struggle for power, the power Compilation of Data : Inputs compiled are from the Indian National Constitution, Annual Report of Ministry of Defence, various Defence publications / journals / pamphlets, Service Headquarters, War may be political (ideological), military or economical (material). There is Colleges and Defence Services Staff College. hardly a more merciless conflict as that based on ideology. The attitudes and
Typesetting and Layout: Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff behaviour of people (friend, foe and the undecided or uncommitted) may ultimately determine the outcome of conflict. Therefore it is necessary to understand the motivation of their leaders, forces and populations in order Printing: Delhi Area Printing Press, HQDelhi Area, Delhi Cantt.- 110010 to shape their perceptions, affect their will to continue the conflict and
II III
to persuade them to accept the desired outcome. Historically, the application Record of Amendments / Insertions of Psychological Operation (Psy Ops) in one form or another has proven to Amdt Authority Amended / Signature & No be almost as essential to the successful waging of war as the use of Inserted by Date of manpower and weaponry. However, in spite of its long history of successful Amdt
usage, the potential of using the power of persuasion through Psy Ops, as a
force multiplier, to achieve national objectives with a minimum destruction,
has been recognised by very few armed forces.
Military Psy Ops constitute a planned process of conveying message to selected groups, known as target audiences, to promote particular themes that result in desired attitudes and behaviour which affect the achievement
of political and military objectives. Given the potential benefit of Psy Ops as an effective force multiplier, commanders at all levels should always
consider its use in support of their military aims and objectives. This joint
doctrine on Perception Management and Psychological Operations has been prepared to guide the defence services in conduct of Military Psy Ops. The
aim and function of this document is to highlight the role of Psy Ops as a
force multiplier in support of the commanders' missions across the spectrum of conflict and to describe its place in supporting the achievement of defence
services goals and objectives. This publication provides military guidance for use by the three Services in preparing their appropriate plans.
JaiHind!
(Deepak Kapoor) General
25 March 2010 Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee
IV V
Chapter Subject Page No
Title I-II
Foreword III-IV
Record of Amendments / Insertions V
Contents VII-IX
1 Perception Management 1-8
• Introduction 1
Intentionally Blank • Perception and Management 1
• Components of Perception Management 2
• Perception Management in Our 4 Environment
7 • Perception Management through Psychological Operations
2 Psychological Operations- An Overview 9-16 • Introduction 9
• Psychological Operations in Military
Operations 10
• Categories of Psychological Operations 10
• Principles of Psychological Operations 12
• Psychological Operations Relationships with Other Military Operations 14
VI VII
Chapter Subject Pag Chapter Subject Page e 5 Conduct of Psychological Operations 31-60 3 Objectives of Psychological Operations in Military Operations 17-22 • General 31
• General 17 • Operational Area Evaluation 31
• During War 17 • Target Area Analysis 32
• Military Operations Other than War • Psychological Operations Themes 34
(MOOTW) 19 • Support for Psychological Operations 42
• Civil-Military Cooperation 21 • Evaluation of Product Effectiveness 46 • During Peacetime 22 • Dissemination of Psychological Operations 47 4 Psychological Operations Planning 23-29 Product • General 23 6 Training 61-63
• Psychological Operations Plans 23 • Introduction 61
• Psychological Operations Concepts 24
• Training of Psychological Operations • Guidance for Psychological Operations Specialists 61
Plan Development 25 • Coordination with Government Agencies 27
Appendix • Appendix 64-69
• Psychological Operations Plan and • Glossary 70-72
Product Approvals 27 • Notes 73-75
VIII IX
Chapter 1
Perception Management
"Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution. — Chanakya
Introduction 1. The need to influence behaviour, opinion, outlook and attitudes of other nations to bring them in conformity with own policies, interpretation of geopolitical events and strategic thought has existed ever since mankind evolved the concept of nation states, national interests, power projection and superiority in economic activities. The ability to mould the minds of people, intelligentsia, military force and decision makers has been described in a variety of terms in the past - like propaganda, covert operations, Psychological Operations (Psy Ops), Information Operations etc. However, till recently, there was a definable separation between the civilian and military methodologies to undertake these activities. The advents of Information Technology (IT), information explosion and rapid involvement of media in all information activities have enabled fusion of civilian activities with military activities and evolution of a consolidated
methodology called Perception Management. Perception Management 2. Perception Management is relatively a new term (about two decades Psychological Operations require specialised training total dedication and sustained efforts at old) coined to combine all civilian and military activities that are undertaken by all times by the three Services and various intelligence agencies. When holistically a nation to influence other nations and obtain favourable attitude for its implemented, its overall results can be most fruitful andfar reaching. X 1
policies, interpretation of geopolitical situations, international relations and 5. Public Information (PI). PI management involves management strategic values. It embodies all actions to shape the behaviour of foreign of all information required to be brought to the notice of everyone in its true audiences and obtain favourable reaction towards our own intentions by form. While depicting the true information, the ingredients that are untrue influencing attitudes, motives and objective reasoning of people at all echelons of decision making and intelligence systems by disseminating are brought out in a manner so as to nullify element of doubt that has been (convey and / or deny) selected information and indicators. The char- knowingly / unknowingly crept into the information. At the end of