A Never-Ending Battle for Rewards and Resources

As natural as it is for us to exert and respond to influence, it is a testament to the power of influence that it takes on so many forms and levels among adults. The constant battle for rewards and the pressures of competition for resources are woven into the fabric of any organization that’s populated with goal-oriented professionals. They’re a virtual petri dish of human psychology that elevates influence to nothing short of the currency of success.

In trying to cash in this currency, people sometimes overstep ethical and legal boundaries. A recent explosive article in Rolling Stone magazine detailed how the U.S. Army may have misused some of its “psychological operations” specialists (or PSYOPs, as they’re commonly known) to influence U.S. senators who stopped by for visits. These specialists usually train their sights on hostile foreign organizations and individuals to manipulate various beliefs, value systems, and emotions for strategic gains in conflict situations and territories. In this case, however, the magazine’s writer reported that PSYOPs targeted U.S. lawmakers making an appearance in the field, in a calculated effort to sway them toward sanctioning additional troops and other resources. Scandal ensued.