What is the goal of psychological warfare in targeting?

The goal of psychological warfare in targeting is to undermine the adversary’s morale. This approach employs various tactics to influence perceptions, sentiments, and behavior of the opponent, aiming to create doubt, fear, or confusion. By targeting the mental and emotional states of enemy forces or populations, psychological warfare can lead to a decrease in their willingness to fight, disrupt cohesion among troops, and ultimately weaken their resolve.

In this context, undermining morale can be achieved through propaganda, disinformation, and other strategic communications that highlight an adversary's weaknesses or create an atmosphere of uncertainty. When the target population's confidence is shaken, it can lead to a significant advantage for the entity conducting the psychological warfare, as a demoralized opponent is more likely to make mistakes, become ineffective, or even surrender. Thus, focusing on the psychological aspect of warfare effectively contributes to achieving broader military objectives without necessarily relying solely on conventional physical confrontations.