{"id":130034,"date":"2020-11-18T13:49:20","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T11:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/?p=130034"},"modified":"2021-03-24T10:24:21","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T08:24:21","slug":"reflexive-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/reflexive-control","title":{"rendered":"Reflexive Control"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Originally published in Ukrainian at Uchoose.info<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Surprising Origins of Reflexive Control<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1970-ies in the USA. FBI launches a criminal profiling unit. The idea behind it is simple \u2013 to research, based on the psychological profiles of captured serial killers and sexual predators, the patterns behind such cases and to solve them. It turned out that serial killings constitute 1% of all murders in the USA and the perpetrators have a lot in common. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their behavioral pattern has a whole set of common traits. For example, serial killers are usually driven by sexual motivation, they mostly target the representatives of their own race or they tend to keep some of the victim\u2019s things or come back to the crime scene to remember and experience again the \u201cpleasure\u201d the received from committing a murder. It was precisely then that FBI made a decision to use all these details in order to lure the killers out and capture them. This is how the idea of cooperating with media and publishing false information to manipulate the criminals came to be (more on this \u2013 in \u201cMindhunter\u201d by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker or in the Netflix series of the same name). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
<\/div>
Reflexive Control<\/a>

?End of the year is a great time for reflection \u2013 so what could be a better opportunity to talk about reflexive control??Developed back in the USSR, this theory is a basis of many destabilization and hybrid influence techniques. Kremlin may have updated some KGB playbooks, but it still relies on them heavily. \u270d\ufe0f Reflexive control is aimed at changing the opponents\u2019 behavior without them even realizing it. It may be used selectively or for a long period of time. It can target both the military and civilians – and it relies on a number of techniques:?distraction;?provocation;?threatening\u2026 as well as others.To find out how they work – and more! – check out the video on the issue. Adapted by us, it was first introduced by Media Reboot team of Ukraine \u0421risis Media Center.? Meanwhile, more about the origins of reflexive control, its difference from perception management and how Kremlin applies it today in article by Head of HWAG Liubov Tsybulska – https:\/\/bit.ly\/2WTb0mCEuromaidan Press InformNapalm UkraineWorld Stopfake Atlantic Forum Fundacja INFO OPS Polska Res Publica Resilient Ukraine Eurasian States in Transition – EAST Research Center Georgian Institute for Security Policy GISP<\/p>Posted by Hybrid Warfare Analytical Group\/UCMC<\/a> on Monday, December 28, 2020<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the ideas behind profiling is a thorough research of your opponent, understanding their logic in order to influence their behavior. Instruments used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation are a great example of reflexive control.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

 A decade before, preceding the FBI, Soviet scientists began their consistent study of reflexivity.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA process by which one enemy transmits the reasons or bases for making decisions to another\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 this was the definition proposed in 1960ies by Vladimir Lefebvre, Soviet and, later, American psychologist, mathematician and a founder of reflexive games theory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It happened in the middle of the Cold War. Information was a major battlefield, where adversaries boasted with their technological achievements. Secret services and media served as the main instruments. Both the USSR and the USA tried to demonstrate their power to threaten the opponent and to undermine their economy with constant defense expenses at the same time. The Soviet Union held theatrical military parades for the Western intelligence \u2013 with phony ballistic missiles. The goal of these operations was to convince the West that the Soviet missile capacity was much greater than it actually was. They prepared fake ones for the demonstration, with missile warheads appearing enormous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Precisely at that point the understanding settles of how many opportunities to manipulate one\u2019s opponent there actually are. The goal behind \u201creflexivity\u201d is to change the opponent\u2019s behavior so that they don\u2019t even realize their decision is not voluntary. Moreover, it is always disadvantageous for the victim \u2013 but he or she realizes it too late, when the enemy has already seized the opportunity. First the Soviets and later the Russians were very serious about reflexive control.  When looking for sources while writing this piece I found dozens of publications by Soviet and modern Russian military strategists. This term is included in strategic documents of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Their understanding of the phenomenon goes as far as selective, specifically modeled situations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern Understanding: Russia vs the West<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The newest issue of the \u201cMilitary Thought\u201d (a journal by Russian Ministry of Defense for the senior members of the Armed Forces and teaching staff of the relevant training institutions) released in October discusses<\/a> reflexive control in the context of naval engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPossible psychological shortcomings of naval engagement may be the difficulty focusing, temporary amnesia (when a soldier forgets what to do and in which sequence), false idiocy (when a soldier is incapable of making simple calculations or establish logical connections). The whole team of the ship may feel it. These circumstances give us an opportunity to influence our opponent. We get a possibility to shape an illusion of perception and thought regarding our actions, as well as to distort the perception of combat situation, erode the decision-making [process], assist the adversary in arriving to the false conclusions, encourage the disadvantageous actions, divert attention to the issues not related to the mission objective. Reflexive control is always connected to the functioning of unconsciousness\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

claims the author of the piece, candidate of sociological sciences Irina Sitnova. She goes on<\/a>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCunningness and maskirovka, demonstration of strength, increased combat readiness or relocation to the \u201ccritical\u201d areas, broadcasting disinformation, spreading panic rumors and sentiments, imitating the unacceptable, not tolerated by the society, actions of the military personnel, police, and the security services\u201d.  <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Western counterpart of the \u201creflexive\u201d approach is a famous perception management theory.  Documents of the United States Department of Defense define \u201cperception management\u201d as actions taken against \u201cforeign audiences\u201d. It constitutes a substantial difference between their view and the one of their Russian colleagues. Kremlin actively applies reflexive control techniques both geopolitically and internally – to influence its own population. Moreover, American approach implies that the opposing side is also a subject, while the Russian military talk about it as an object. Technologies of reflexive control are implemented regardless of the state of relations with a country. It means that those considering themselves to have a good relationship with Russia are targets of reflexive control special operations as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going through the works of American authors one may see that \u201cperception management\u201d is often discussed in the same context as \u201cstrategic communications\u201d and \u201cpublic diplomacy\u201d. Therefore, American approach is much more focused on the \u201csoft power\u201d elements and less so on the aggressive subversion. FBI has been for years including<\/a> \u201cperception management\u201d into the list of 8 \u201ckey threats\u201d to the national security along with terrorism, attacks targeting critical infrastructure, and espionage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director of Intelligence for U.S. Cyber Command, Brigadier General Matteo Martemucci writes<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the tactical level, Perception Management can be as simple as a soldier understanding the cultural mores and political climate enough to remove his sunglasses when interacting with local civilians, thus countering the perception that American soldiers are soulless robots to be kept at a distance.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Martemucci provides the following example of using media in reflexive control: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Lebanese Hezbollah organization was able to achieve profound psychological effects by allegedly posing dead women and children at the site of a previously struck military target, claiming that the innocents were purposely targeted by Israeli warplanes. By manipulating complicit media to broadcast footage of the allegedly staged event, Hezbollah was able to use the global media as a combat multiplier, resulting in worldwide questioning (if not condemnation) of Israeli air attacks\u201d.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

British researcher Phillip Taylor to a great extent equates \u201cperception management\u201d with propaganda in his book \u201cMunitions of the Mind\u201d.<\/a> Still, for many people \u201cpropaganda\u201d carries dramatically negative connotations, which is why it is often avoided. Taylor (and Martemucci refers to him) argues that propaganda is a value-neutral term defined as a \u201cprocess of persuasion, aimed at the benefit of an initiator\u201d. By the way, the United States Department of Defense supports the claim on neutrality, defining<\/a> propaganda as \u201cany form of communication in support of national objectives designed to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior of any group in order to benefit the sponsor\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opportunities for reflexive control have grown along with technological development, social media in particular. Hybrid Warfare Analytical Group of Ukraine Crisis Media Center had an opportunity to observe this via Telegram \u2013 when Ukrainian political leadership adopts decisions based on disinformation spread by the Telegram channels.  It is of special importance before and after elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychological Effects: Case of Ukraine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Still, the most relevant and the most dangerous element of reflexive control targeting civilian population is exhaustion and demoralization. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Importance of psychological games is discussed in this particular regard in the abovementioned Russian journal \u201cMilitary Thought\u201d. Definition<\/a> is the following: \u201cPsychological games are a form of interaction between subjects and objects of control [meaning the aggressor and the victim \u2013 author] within the framework of established and recognized rules\u201d. Among the several listed games two have caught my particular interest: game \u201cdisorder\u201d and game \u201cabsurdity\u201d. Both are aimed at creating chaos throughout the constant feeling of injustice. And it\u2019s worth to note here that these quotes are not from Eric Berne\u2019s famous book \u201cGames People Play\u201d, but from what is practically a textbook for senior military leadership of the Russian Federation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many examples of such influence can be easily found in the modern history of Ukraine. I\u2019ll discuss just the two of them, where Russian scenario played out perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2014. Ukraine, Ilovaisk. Russian media report en masse that Ukrainian units are surrounded. The term \u201cencirclement\u201d spills over from Russian media to Ukrainian ones, and then it is voiced by Ukrainian politicians. Families and friends of the Ukrainian soldiers call them and encourage to run, to leave the position and to disregard the orders. Chaos in the information field weakens Ukrainian side. Situation spins out of control, and Russian troops, after having provided the corridor to leave, massacre close to 300 Ukrainian soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2020. Ukraine, Novy Sanzhary. The locals receive letters and messengers seemingly from the central authorities, informing them that COVID-19 infected persons are being transported to their village from China. Fear of the unknown deadly disease leads them out to the streets, where they aggressively attack the buses with evacuees, throwing stones at them. The whole world broadcasts the pictures of violent, uncivilized reaction of Ukrainians to the innocent people. Russian actors spread this massively, amplifying the Russian narrative on Ukraine as a weak, undeveloped, institutionally incapable state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In both cases aggression and the feeling of ultimate injustice were directed at ourselves, not at the enemy. This goal of such operations is also often discussed by the Russians. On both occasions Ukrainian society was convinced that political and military leadership of the state is the source of the problem, while it was actually a victim of reflexive control, just as the rest of society itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chaos is achieved with the constant information pressure, domination of negative news and politization of all the areas of lives.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It undermines trust to the institutions and provokes conflicts inside the groups. The more fragmented this struggle gets, the better for adversary. It is especially easy to achieve in the current conditions of Ukraine, where external Russian aggression is combined with the internal standoff between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constant fight for justice at all fronts results in the feeling of defeat and despair, which, in turn, paralyzes the ability to counteract. The winner here is the one who managed to allocate their strength correctly and didn\u2019t give up at yet another \u201ctreason\u201d. Therefore, at the personal level, when everything appears to be in flames, it is important for each and every one of us to stop and think who might be behind this; and at the state level \u2013 to study opponents as consistently as they study us. Ukraine indeed lacks resources for offensive operations, but using the reflexive control techniques it is quite possible to catch the aggressor off guard in his domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally published in Ukrainian at Uchoose.info The Surprising Origins of Reflexive Control 1970-ies in the USA. FBI launches a criminal profiling unit. The idea behind it is simple \u2013 to research, based on the psychological profiles of captured serial killers and sexual predators, the patterns behind such cases and to solve them. It turned out […] More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":130035,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[700,699,748],"tags":[],"section":[726],"form":[31943],"yoast_head":"\nReflexive Control | UACRISIS.ORG<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Originally published in Ukrainian at Uchoose.info The Surprising Origins of Reflexive Control 1970-ies in the USA. 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