Psychological War as an Element of Hybrid War

Abstract

The article provides an overview of research into the psychological aspects of war in the past. The growing interest of scientists to the problem of psychological warfare during the world wars and in the post-war period is indicated.
A certain difference between the concepts of "information war" and "psychological warfare". The features of psychological warfare are revealed. It is noted that the methods of conducting information warfare have changed and have been constantly improved, as have the methods of psychological influence.
Attention is drawn to the fact that the use of psychological methods of influencing the population and the military of a country against which a psychological war is being waged, indirectly leads to a drop in trust between countries, a weakening of the international security system.
The high-tech nature of modern psychological wars is noted. The tendency of the growth of threats to the security of the state in the conditions of using modern information technologies in psychological warfare is indicated. The author points out the possibility of using the Internet by unfriendly states for cross-border informational influence in order to form a certain public opinion regarding state policy, political leaders, violation of political stability, and the like.
The purpose of using the psychological influence of a hostile state on the population of the country against which a hybrid war is being waged has been determined. Attention is drawn to the importance of researching methods and methods of conducting psychological warfare for the sake of improving protection against it. The factors that weaken the possibilities of protecting the security of Ukraine in the conditions of psychological warfare are considered, which is a component of the hybride war, in particular the existence of various identifications in the Ukrainian society, the preservation of old stereotypes among a part of the population and uncritical thinking.