Book excerpt: Fear Factor: Weaponizing Panic in Asymmetric Conflicts is a comprehensive, analytical guide to understanding and leveraging the strategic power of panic in modern warfare. Written with the precision of a military field manual and the rigor of a psychological operations textbook, this book dissects how irregular forces—guerrillas, insurgents, and terrorists—use fear as a weapon to destabilize superior adversaries. Through case studies, scientific models, and proven tactics, this book provides a detailed roadmap for inducing, sustaining, and exploiting panic on the battlefield and in civilian populations. This is not theoretical. This is a practical manual on how fear can be weaponized to cripple operational efficiency, disrupt command structures, and demoralize entire societies. Key features of this book include: A thorough analysis of panic as a psychological weapon in both historical and contemporary conflicts. Tactical methods for identifying vulnerabilities, launching fear-based attacks, and sustaining panic in military and civilian targets. Case studies from the Vietnam War, the Soviet-Afghan conflict, and modern insurgencies, demonstrating the real-world application of these tactics. Step-by-step breakdowns of disinformation campaigns, cyber warfare, and psychological operations designed to create chaos and disarray in the enemy’s ranks. Insights into how modern technologies—AI, cyberattacks, and autonomous systems—are transforming the battlefield by amplifying the psychological impact of panic. Strategies for turning individual fear into widespread organizational collapse. With a unique focus on the psychological dimension of asymmetric warfare, Fear Factor offers commanders, intelligence analysts, and strategic planners an in-depth look at how to effectively integrate psychological operations into broader military campaigns. Drawing from cutting-edge research on cognitive load theory, stress-response models, and collective behavior, this book provides the scientific and operational rigor needed to turn panic into a force multiplier. Fear Factor is not just an exploration of panic—it is a field-tested guide to using fear as a strategic tool to outmaneuver, disorient, and defeat larger, conventional forces. It is an essential resource for anyone engaged in the planning and execution of modern warfare.