OPERATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY – THE LAST RANGE OF MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY: SCIENCE AND APPLICATION
OPERATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY – THE LAST RANGE OF MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY: SCIENCE AND APPLICATION

Summary/Abstract: Operational psychology is an emerging military psychology sub-discipline, rapidly expensed after 9/11, firstly developed in assessment and selection of military counter-intelligence operatives in the WWII. Military psychology by itself is military context related psychological discipline, where psychological principles, knowledge and practices are applied. As a profession, military psychologist is characterized with diversity of roles, environments, psychological disciplines, methodology and practices, which dominant identity changes according the historical development of the societies and psychological science. That means not simple applying academic knowledge in practice, given that military is very complex and high-reliability organization that includes organizational and social challenges, what created need for operational behavioral psychological experts, making both process to have unique patterns by their own. So, operational psychology is complex applied psychological sub-discipline, which implies familiarity of many other psychological and interdisciplinary areas, upgraded in behavioral related with the context psychological approach, giving the operational psychologists specific position and roles compared with the other psychologists, as well as specific relations with them. Involving many sub-areas, generally is oriented on psychological aspects of the theatre of operations or combat/ operational performance enhancement, also found named as operational aspects of military/ forensic psychology or national security psychology. From other side, many challenges as confidentiality, risk, lack of literature, researches and guidelines in this discipline, complemented with the same in the other operational profession, or undefined competences, education and training programs in operational psychologists, opens need of defining competences, distinguishing authorities, and other ambiguities in order to appropriate application. The initial degree of psychology development in national security or some other sectors and areas in Republic of Macedonia, is additional challenge. This paper will introduce operational psychology science and practice, putting its base in this region, with main aim enhancing special military and security operational personnel performance and operation success. Operational psychology historical development overview and specifics within national security psychological science and practice will help in clearing ambiguities and issues found necessary for its appropriate implementation.

• Details
• Contents