Modern Cognitive and Informational Warfare: the Role of Consciousness Manipulation of Ukrainians in Personality Transformation

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study the psychological and neuro-psycho­logical nature and strategies of cognitive and information warfare in the Ukrai­nian context in 2024, as well as the formation of a theoretical basis for individu­al, personal changes, transformations of personality, as a negative consequence of destructive influence of the methods of propaganda, misinformation and methods of manipulation on the individual’s self-consciousness, brain, cognitive functions, emotional and volitional sphere of a personality during extreme and risky combat operations. Methods of the research. The theoretical and methodological base of the research consists of a set of theoretical and empirical methods: theoretical-methodological analysis, generalization, systematization, surveys, interviews, test methods, project method, Rorschach projective technique, genetic-creative approach (S.D. Maksymenko) and principles of its construction: development; experiencing freedom; technologies, methods of disinformation and propa­ganda; self-regulation of behavior; interactions; uncertainty and indeterminism; therapeutic action through the prism of digital technologies; basic philosophical, psychological, sociological principles of understanding the problem of cognitive and information warfare. The results of the research. For Ukraine, countermeasures against cogni­tive and informational warfare are of crucial importance for ensuring national security and protecting democratic values. Effective countermeasures require cooperation between government structures, civil society and international partners. Conclusions. The cognitive-informational war (CIW) in 2023-2024 is an important aspect of the modern world order, especially in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. This is a complex mechanism of manipulating the con­sciousness of Ukrainians, which uses various methods and tools to achieve its invasive goals, leading to the transformation of cognitive and behavioral trans­formations of a personality. It has been established that the influence of the cognitive and informational warfare on Ukrainian society is manifested through the division and polariza­tion, undermining trust in the authorities, destabilizing the political situation, and reducing the fighting spirit of the Ukrainian army. However, according to the mentioned plan, there are measures that can reduce the negative impact of CIW, such as the development of critical thinking and media literacy, detection and countering of disinformation, protection of cyber security and support of freedom of speech and pluralism of opinion. The future prospects of the development of cognitive and informational warfare will be reflected in the constant growth of technologies and changes in the strategies of conducting information warfare. Therefore, it is important to constantly update and adapt countermeasures to new challenges. It has been found in order to counteract effectively against CIW, it is necessary to combine technological and psychological approaches, develop critical thinking and media literacy of population, and create effective mechanisms to counter disinforma­tion and manipulation.

Keywords

• cognitive and informational warfare
• disinformation
• manipulation
• critical thinking
• media literacy
• personality transformation
• consciousness