2-29. In today’s complex and rapidly evolving information environment, perceptions, decisions, and, ultimately, behavior are influenced by the psychological effects of actions and information. Emphasis on psychological objectives gives Psychological Operations Soldiers the responsibility to advise U.S. military commanders, ambassadors, or host-nation civilian and military leadership on the potential impact of messages and actions on targets and audiences. Military information support operations can be conducted unilaterally or in conjunction with economic, social, and political activities to limit or preclude the use of military force and to more effectively and efficiently use special operations forces for other high payoff missions. In some cases, the military objective may be relevant only in terms of the psychological effect. This emphasis on psychological effects has created a fundamental shift in the way Army special operations forces view military objectives from a planning standpoint. No longer can commanders look at just the physical aspects of an objective without taking into account the affected populations or targets and audiences in the area of operations. This shift affects all Army special operations forces operating in or through the information environment and increases the relevance of military information support operations as a core activity and capability to affect the environment.