Operational Psychology: Foundation, Applications, and Issues

Operational psychology involves the application of the science of behavior to national security, law enforcement, and military operations. This chapter explores foundational descriptions of operational psychology, discusses its links to other areas of psychology, and addresses its scope of practice. An overview of how operational psychology is applied in support of national security operations is emphasized. In particular, we discuss the application of operational psychology in support of counterintelligence operations, direct and indirect assessments, and assessment and selection of individuals for support to these types of operations.