“In today’s world, information is no less powerful weapons than physical. In the context of hybrid wars and information confrontation, the term of IPSO-information and psychological operations is increasingly common. Understanding the essence, mechanisms and methods of these operations is critical for every citizen, especially in Ukraine, which is constantly under the pressure of hostile propaganda. What is IPSO IPSO (information-psychological”, – WRITE ON: ua.news
In today’s world, information is no less powerful weapons than physical. In the context of hybrid wars and information confrontation, the term is increasingly common IPSO-information and psychological operations . Understanding the essence, mechanisms and methods of these operations is critical for every citizen, especially in Ukraine, which is constantly under the pressure of hostile propaganda.
What is IPSO
IPSO (Information and Psychological Operation) – These are planned actions aimed at influencing the emotions, thoughts, beliefs and behavior of the target audience (individuals, population groups, military or even entire nations) through purposeful dissemination or distortion of information. The purpose of such operations is to achieve certain political, military, economic or social goals, often through the destabilization of society, demoralization of the enemy or the formation of the necessary public opinion.
IPSOs can include a wide range of methods: from the use of media, social networks and fake news to psychological pressure and the creation of certain narratives.
IPSO: How to decipher
Abbreviation The IPSO deciphes as Information and psychological operation .
This term clearly indicates the double nature of such actions:
Information component: It concerns the spread or manipulation of information (news, rumors, analytics, historical facts, etc.).
Psychological component: It aims to influence the mental state, emotions, motivation and behavior of people.
Who is engaged in IPSO in Ukraine
Russia wages a continuous information war against Ukraine, using a wide range of IPSO to destabilize society and undermine national stability.
The enemy actively spreads misinformation through all available channels: from controlled Russian media and pro-Russian Telegram channels to large-scale botoferms in social networks and hidden agents of influence. The purpose of these operations – sow panic, despair and discord among Ukrainians, intensify internal conflicts (for example, between military and civilian, various political forces, or linguistic), to discredit the Ukrainian leadership and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and to justify their own war crimes.
Russian IPSOs are aimed at undermining the state, creating an illusion of hopelessness and stimulating protest sentiment, which is a direct threat to Ukraine’s national security.
In Ukraine IPSO It is one of the tools for protecting national security and combating aggression. Specialized units that are engaged IPSO in Ukraine exist in the composition Special Operations Forces (SCOs) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine . Their tasks include:
- Countering hostile propaganda: Exposing and neutralizing the misinformation campaigns of the enemy.
- Support for moral and psychological state: Formation of stability in their own population and servicemen.
- Information work with enemy: Demoralization of hostile forces, dissemination of information about the possibility of capturing, explaining the rules of international law.
- Communication with the world community: Formation of a positive image of Ukraine and clarification of its position.
It is important to distinguish between defensive and offensive IPSOs. Ukrainian units work to protect the interests of the state, while the aggressor country uses IPSO to destabilize and spread lies.
How to recognize IPSO
Recognize IPSO It can be difficult because they are often masked by ordinary news or thoughts. However, there are certain signs and techniques of manipulation that you should pay attention to:
- Emotionally colored content: Excessively emotional headings, sensational statements that cause fear, anger, indignation or panic.
- Lack of sources or references to anonymous sources: Information without confirmed facts, reference to “Anonymous sources in special services” or “insider information”.
- Attempts to separate society: Conflicts between different population groups, the spread of interethnic, inter -denominational or regional hostility.
- Black and white thinking: The division of the world into “absolutely good” and “absolutely bad” without halftones, ignoring the complexity of the situation.
- Ignoring facts: Deliberate distortion or ignoring of well -known facts.
- Putting panic or despair: Constant spread of negative forecasts, exaggeration of the scale of problems, reduction of success.
- A sudden change of narrative: A quick change in topic or accents in messages.
- Mass synchronous appearance of similar messages: A sign of a coordinated campaign when the same information appears simultaneously on many resources.
Psychological surgery and manipulative techniques
Psychological operation – This is the heart of IPSO, its essence is to influence the human psyche. Various manipulative techniques are used for this purpose:
- The effect of primacy and novelty: The information provided first or the latest is better remembered and perceived as true.
- Anchor heuristics: Use of the starting “reference point” (anchor) to influence further judgments. For example, a constant repetition of a negative characteristic that is “fixed” by the object.
- Emotional appeals: Appeal to fear, anger, compassion, nostalgia to bypass logical thinking.
- Creating a false dilemma: A presentation of a situation with only two options for choosing, although there are actually more.
- Distortion of Facts (Phatoids): Creating a semi -truth when some of the information is true and part is fictional or changed.
- Argument to authority: Reference to the “expert” (often incompetent or fictional) to confirm your thesis.
- The “herd effect”: Formation of thought that “everyone thinks” or “everyone is doing” to make a person join.
- Personalization: Providing common personal problems to cause a stronger emotional reaction.
IPSO manipulation techniques
In addition to the aforementioned, a number of other manipulation techniques are actively used within the IPSO, which aims to have a hidden effect on the audience’s mind:
- Fake news and and “Impact of return” (Backfire Effect): Dissemination of fully fictional information or partially true but distorted data. The paradox is that the refutation of the fake can sometimes only strengthen the belief in it in those who have already accepted it for the truth.
- Cutting and tearing out of context: The manipulators take individual phrases or fragments of statements, videos or events and tear them out of the original context to give them a completely different, distorted meaning.
- Ad hominm (transition to personality): Instead of refuting the opponent’s arguments, his or her personal qualities, reputation or motives are attacked. This diverts attention from the essence of the discussion.
- Using stereotypes and prejudice: The exploitation of existing stereotypes, prejudices or fears in society to simplify complex information and form a biased attitude to certain groups or ideas.
- Submission of concepts: Use of some terms instead of others to give the situation of the desired emotional color or change its perception. For example, “release” instead of “occupation”.
- Statistics and data manipulation: Presentation of statistics in distorted form, use of irrelevant indicators or selective quotation to confirm the desired thesis.
Understanding these manipulation techniques is the first step to protecting your own information space. Critical thinking, checking sources of information and accessing official and trusted resources are the best means of confrontation with IPSO.
