Introduction
Ultimately, psychology seeks to improve human function and wellbeing by better comprehending human behavior and mental processes. It has historically been used in a range of contexts, including industry, healthcare, and education. But as society and its needs have changed over time, so has the study of psychology, opening the door for specialized branches.
Operational psychology is one such offshoot. It is a fascinating and dynamic field that bridges psychology and high-stakes operations, such as those in the military, intelligence, and law enforcement.
What Is Operational Psychology?
Operational psychology is a specialized field that uses psychological principles and techniques to support, improve, and optimize operations within military, intelligence, and law enforcement contexts. It represents a blend of clinical, experimental, and forensic psychology, providing unique insights into human behavior in high-pressure environments.
It is characterized by the need to make quick decisions, often with significant ramifications, and frequently involves dealing with individuals under stress or even trauma. The goal is to enhance operational effectiveness, whether through improving personnel selection, optimizing team dynamics, aiding crisis management, or supporting critical decision-making processes.
Areas of Focus
Operational psychology is broad, encompassing various elements. Here are a few key areas of focus:
- Personnel Selection and Assessment: Operational psychologists work to ensure the right individuals are chosen for specific roles. They use various psychometric assessments, interviews, and simulation exercises to evaluate cognitive abilities, personality traits, and overall suitability for a position.
- Training and Performance Enhancement: They contribute to the design and implementation of training programs to improve skill acquisition and performance under stressful conditions. Additionally, they work on developing strategies to prevent or mitigate the adverse effects of stress and fatigue on performance.
- Crisis and Conflict Management: They are frequently involved in managing crises or conflicts, utilizing their expertise in negotiation, conflict resolution, and communication.
- Behavioral Profiling and Threat Assessment: Operational psychologists may be asked to build psychological profiles of individuals who pose potential threats. This can help anticipate behavior and inform the strategic responses of law enforcement or intelligence agencies.
History
Although the field of operational psychology has its roots in World War II, it has only been in the last few decades that it has truly come into its own. Psychologists were used by the military to help with a variety of tasks during World War II, including personnel selection, psychological warfare, and the creation of interrogation methods.
However, Dr. Eric A. Zillmer, a psychology professor at Drexel University, came up with the phrase “operational psychology” much later. In order to bridge the gap between conventional psychological practice and new operational needs, his definition placed an emphasis on the application of scientific psychological principles to operational environments.
Techniques Utilized
Depending on the circumstance and particular operational requirements, operational psychology makes use of a wide variety of techniques. Some of these methods consist of:
- Crisis Negotiation: Involves the application of psychological principles to diffuse crises, such as hostage situations or standoffs. Techniques could include active listening, rapport building, and strategic communication.
- Human Behavior Analysis: Psychologists apply principles of cognitive and behavioral psychology to predict behavior. Techniques might include behavioral profiling or predictive analytics.
- Psychological Warfare: Techniques such as the strategic dissemination of propaganda or disinformation to confuse or demoralize the enemy can be employed.
- Resilience Training and Stress Management: Techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and resilience training can help personnel manage stress and adversity.
How To Use Operational Psychology
A thorough understanding of psychology is necessary to use operational psychology, especially as it relates to high-stakes, high-stress situations. A thorough understanding of human behavior, decision-making techniques, and the effects of stress on cognitive function are required for this. Here are a few applications for operational psychology:
- Risk Assessment: Evaluating potential threats to individuals or organizations and suggesting mitigation strategies.
- Team Dynamics: Enhancing team performance through improved communication, conflict resolution strategies, and leadership development.
- Personnel Selection: Conducting psychological evaluations and assessments to select personnel for various roles.
- Crisis Management: Offering psychological support during crises, facilitating negotiation and resolution, and providing post-trauma support.
FAQs
Why do people use operational psychology?
Operational psychology is employed because it provides helpful resources and insights for successfully navigating high-stakes situations. Operational psychologists can improve decision-making processes, boost team performance, anticipate and handle potential threats, and lessen the psychological effects of high-stress situations by applying psychological principles.
What are the branches of operational psychology?
Among its many specialized subfields are military psychology, law enforcement psychology, aviation psychology, intelligence psychology, and crisis response psychology. Operational psychology is a broad field. Within their unique contexts, each of these focuses on various facets of operational psychology.
How can you study operational psychology?
A graduate degree in psychology is typically required to study operational psychology, with a focus on fields like forensic psychology, clinical psychology, or cognitive psychology. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to take specialized courses or receive training in subjects like crisis management, risk assessment, decision-making under pressure, and ethics in operational environments. It would be beneficial to gain hands-on experience through internships or residencies in organizations like the military, law enforcement, or intelligence agencies.
References
Zillmer, E. A. (2015). Military psychology: Clinical and operational applications. Guilford Publications.
Velezmoro R. The role of the psychologist in the veterans administration’s patient aligned care team and huddle: A review, practical recommendations, and a call to action. Health Psychol Res. 2018 Nov 7;6(1):7393. doi: 10.4081/hpr.2018.7393
Vrij A, Meissner CA, Fisher RP, Kassin SM, Morgan CA 3rd, Kleinman SM. Psychological Perspectives on Interrogation. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2017 Nov;12(6):927-955. doi: 10.1177/1745691617706515. Epub 2017 Sep 21.