Zersetzung, which translates to “decomposition, corrosion, undermining, biodegradation or dissolution” was a psychological technique used by the Stasi, which was the East German secret police. These techniques were used to silence political opponents. Up to 10,000 people are estimated to be victims, and at least half had irreversible damage.

Zersetzung operations were designed to intimidate and destabilize opponents. This was achieved by psychological methods like socially alienating a victim, subjecting them to repeated disappointment, and disrupting their relationships with others. The goal was to destroy a person’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Every operation needed to be done in a uniform, supervised manner, and the results had to be documented. It wasn’t until the 1970s when it was defined in terms of a “scientific method.” Other methods of zersetzung included espionage, opening letters and listening to phone calls, trespassing on private property in a threatening manner, manipulation vehicles, poisoning food and using “false medications.”