Introduction
Psychology is the study of the nature, functions and phenomena of behaviour and
mental experience. While this definition is broadly accepted among psychologists, it does not
achieve universal consensus, as the discipline is conceptualized differently across various
theoretical frameworks (Colman, 2019). According to the origins of the word, psychology is
discourse about the soul – from the Greek words psyche (soul/spirit/mind) and logos (study,
discourse or reason). Therefore, the literal meaning of psychology in Greek is "the study of
the soul" or "the study of the mind". Over time, however, the focus of psychology has shifted
from philosophical speculation about the soul to the scientific investigation of behaviour and
mental processes. This transition was marked by the development of experimental methods
and the application of empirical research, particularly during the late nineteenth century,
establishing psychology as an independent scientific discipline distinct from philosophy and
physiology.
Psychology should be regarded as a crucial component of military operations, as
numerous wartime victories have been attributed to the effective use of intelligence and
strategic psychological methods. For instance, Japan’s early success in World War II can be
partly credited to their application of blitzkrieg tactics, which strategically targeted enemy
weaknesses through rapid, coordinated assaults designed to demoralize and overwhelm.
Within the military context, psychology is understood as the scientific study, development,
and application of psychological theories and experimental findings aimed at understanding,
predicting, and influencing behaviours whether among one’s own forces, allied groups,
enemy forces, or civilian populations that could be undesirable, threatening, or otherwise
detrimental to the success of military missions. Military Psychology, therefore, equips health
practitioners and students with psychological expertise relevant to the armed forces, law
enforcement agencies, and the intelligence and national security sectors (Kennedy, 2006).
In order to understand the psychological aspects of military operations, various
theories have been developed, such as cognitive theory, behavioural theory, and
psychoanalytic theory. These frameworks provide critical guidance for analyzing and
interpreting human behavior and decision-making processes. Within the military, these
theories serve as valuable tools for determining which psychological approaches can be
applied to different situations. By studying and implementing these theories, military
personnel can better anticipate behaviors, refine strategies, and optimize the effectiveness of
operations, especially in complex or high-pressure environments.
REFERENCES
1. Mohd Kenali Bin Basiron, Burhanuddin Jalal, Teoh Hsien-Jin, & Sri Fitriaty Mohd.
(2025). Introduction to military psychology: Managing combat power handbook.
National Defence University of Malaysia.
2. Colman, A. M. (2019). What Is Psychology?. In Companion Encyclopedia of
Psychology (pp. 3-18). Routledge.
3. Kennedy, C. H., & McNeil, J. A. (2006). A history of military psychology. Military
psychology: Clinical and operational applications, 1-17.
4. Pakpahan, F. H., & Saragih, M. (2022). Theory of cognitive development by Jean
Piaget. Journal of Applied Linguistics, 2(1), 55-60.
