Cognitive warfare shifts the battlefield from physical domains to the human dimension, targeting perception, judgment, and decision-making. While its objective of influencing minds is historically rooted, this study examines how disinformation and specific social processes increase societal vulnerability to these threats, aiming to enhance societal awareness of its mechanisms.
Methodology:This study employs a qualitative, descriptive–analytical approach. Data collection integrated library-based research—systematic reviews of scholarly articles, security reports, and psychological texts—with field-based analysis of empirical cases and real-world cognitive operations within cyberspace and media environments. Data were processed using conceptual, deductive, and comparative analysis.
Results:The findings reveal that while the concept is not new, advancements in cognitive psychology, the exploitation of cognitive biases, and the expansion of social media have exponentially increased the scope and speed of cognitive warfare. Crucially, the study concludes that modern geopolitical success requires a synergistic integration of kinetic, information, and cognitive warfare; isolated military action is no longer sufficient for sustainable strategic outcomes.