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I would think this specialty would build skills that are well compensated in the private sector: public relations, marketing, political campaigns, journalism, S

I would think this specialty would build skills that are well compensated in the private sector: public relations, marketing, political campaigns, journalism, SEO. Since gaslighting and enlightening aren't all that different in terms of PsyOps, also include teaching. Convincing a population that they are being liberated rather than invaded is good training for convincing another population to use chorizo flavored toothpaste.

jazzyjackson 5y ago
has a population ever been convinced they were being liberated? seems to me that's more of a lie to tell the invading soldiers to give them high morale until the truth sinks in
- hirundo 5y ago
  So roughly as difficult as selling chorizo toothpaste. Capturing hearts and minds is tough all over.
- wolverine876 5y ago
  I think it could be a common delusion of the invaders. In the Iraq war, I think the Bush administration really thought, in a fit of megalomania, the Iraqis would welcome them as liberators. I once read a military historian who said (paraphrasing), "you can always identify a bad war plan when it ends with 'and then the local population will rise up and join us'". It's such an incredibly egocentric view of the world. I knew someone who was in one of the lead units in the Iraq war. They said they were instructed to tell people in each town that the US forces had come to liberate them, and that the locals would of course rise up and help the Americans. They said every town was the same: they'd make the announcement, and then they'd hear the mortars coming ... It turns out people don't like foreigners with guns taking over their towns by force, no matter what their stated intentions. Imagine how you would feel.
  - jazzyjackson 5y ago
    megolomania is a good explanation, self-deception without needing PSYOPS !
    - wolverine876 5y ago
      That is really a vaulable conception of it (and LOL funny). I suspect Putin psyoped himself.
- runjake 5y ago
  A few countries and peoples in Europe after WWII, maybe? Although granted, cases with positive outcome seem rare.

jazzyjackson 5y ago

has a population ever been convinced they were being liberated? seems to me that's more of a lie to tell the invading soldiers to give them high morale until the truth sinks in

hirundo 5y ago
So roughly as difficult as selling chorizo toothpaste. Capturing hearts and minds is tough all over.
wolverine876 5y ago
I think it could be a common delusion of the invaders. In the Iraq war, I think the Bush administration really thought, in a fit of megalomania, the Iraqis would welcome them as liberators. I once read a military historian who said (paraphrasing), "you can always identify a bad war plan when it ends with 'and then the local population will rise up and join us'". It's such an incredibly egocentric view of the world. I knew someone who was in one of the lead units in the Iraq war. They said they were instructed to tell people in each town that the US forces had come to liberate them, and that the locals would of course rise up and help the Americans. They said every town was the same: they'd make the announcement, and then they'd hear the mortars coming ... It turns out people don't like foreigners with guns taking over their towns by force, no matter what their stated intentions. Imagine how you would feel.
- jazzyjackson 5y ago
  megolomania is a good explanation, self-deception without needing PSYOPS !
  - wolverine876 5y ago
    That is really a vaulable conception of it (and LOL funny). I suspect Putin psyoped himself.
runjake 5y ago
A few countries and peoples in Europe after WWII, maybe? Although granted, cases with positive outcome seem rare.