Kurilkin, A.V. Evolution development of psychological warfare: from propaganda to the psychological operations.

Abstract: Currently little attention is paid to the scientific studies of the phenomena of propaganda, psychological warfare, psychological operations and their influence upon the politics. Additionally the depressive situation with studies of this matter is made worse by some authors, who while not providing quality phenomenon studies, make their conclusions based upon the popular conspiracy theories without due application of scientific methodology. In order to study the said issue it is first necessary to define the terminology, which shall be used in this scientific theoretical article, namely: propaganda, psychological operation, psychological warfare. Generally, one may state that during a rather short period of time (less than a century) the methods of psychological warfare went through a long evolution starting with the propaganda and finishing with the complicated psychological operations events, when the object of influence may even not understand the influence upon his psyche.

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