Revelation of method
The concept of “revelation of method” is most notably associated with author Michael A. Hoffman II, who defines it as a psychological warfare tactic. In this context, it is a form of arrogant mockery displayed by an aggressor toward a victim, often involving veiled but recognizable clues about the aggressor’s tactics.
Key aspects
- Psychological warfare: The primary goal is to assert power and demoralize the target, rather than to inform or explain.
- Veiled clues: The revelation is not a direct confession but an arrogant display of power, using symbols, signs, and coded words that allow the victim to understand how they are being manipulated.
- Contempt and mockery: A critical component is a “clown-like, grinning mockery” of the victim. The aggressor shows contempt for the victim’s powerlessness to stop the plan, even while the plan is being revealed.
- Ineffective resistance: The technique is said to be most effective when the target does not offer any meaningful resistance or opposition after being shown the method. This silence is interpreted by the aggressor as a sign of their own power.
Broader interpretations While Hoffman’s definition is specific to psychological warfare, the phrase can be interpreted more broadly in other contexts:
- Creative and academic fields: In creative or academic writing, “revelations in method” can refer to an author acknowledging and explaining how their personal experiences, relationships, and intellectual influences shaped their ideas and arguments.
- Intelligence and surveillance: In the context of intelligence, a “revelation of method” could be a security breach where a spy’s tactics or sources are exposed. This is often the opposite of a deliberate act of psychological warfare and is a critical failure for the intelligence agency.
AI responses may include mistakes.
