The psychological dimension of war is frequently neglected compared to the physical aspects. Storr has shown that a psychological collapse of the opponent can lead to an organizational breakdown, but the theories have mainly been tested through simulations. The degree of success largely relies on how well the shock effect is being exploited, and how well the defending force can retain their cohesion. An advantage in numbers quickly becomes irrelevant if the shock effect is being properly exploited, and this thesis aims to identify what factors lead to a successful exploitation. The findings suggest that successful exploitation requires proper conditions to be acquired, such as an accessible road network and supplies, for the troops being able to advance. To seize sudden oppor- tunities, and to use a more flexible logistics chain, the units should be organized into smaller task forces. Furthermore, the results show that a strong cohesion and a sound leadership are essential for the protec- tion against shock effect and exploitation, and the use of complementary PSYOPS could undermine the opponent’s morale and will, leading to an organizational breakdown.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:fhs-11581 |
| Date | January 2023 |
| Creators | Sundström, Mathias |
| Publisher | Försvarshögskolan |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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