The Role of PSYOP in Shaping Cultural Values Under Post-Truth Conditions

Psychological Operations (PSYOP) refer to the planned use of information to influence the perceptions, emotions, motivations, and behaviors of target audiences in line with national objectives, with cultural values constituting a central dimension of this process. In contemporary communication environments, this relationship has been reshaped by the post-truth condition, characterized by the declining authority of factual accuracy and the growing role of emotion, belief, and identity in public opinion formation. Under these conditions, PSYOP extends beyond information dissemination by shaping cultural narratives and symbolic references through which interpretations are formed. This chapter examines the phases of PSYOP, its transformation in the post-truth era, and the mechanisms through which it affects cultural values, including emotional manipulation, algorithmic amplification, and narrative construction, illustrated through case studies on ISIS propaganda and the Russia–Ukraine War.