Unveiling the Threat: the Cognitive Mechanisms Behind Disinformation's Influence on Democratic Systems

Abstract

Disinformation and cognitive warfare are very current threats to national security. These menaces, by exploiting the mental processes through which an individual processes information and internalises narratives, may creep into government structures and undermine their foundations. This dissertation questions the ways in which this exploitation might operate, to unravel its hidden gears, and understand to what extent this vulnerability may endanger the social structure. Using a mixed methodology, that combines a quantitative, qualitative, and theoretical approach, it appears that there is an important correlation between trust in institutions and an individual's level of education. It is therefore believed that a sound education - accompanied by a strengthening of media literacy - is an important tool to reinforce cognitive resilience and be less vulnerable to disinformation and political distrust. Raising awareness on these issues, and uniting the psychological with the security field, as NATO (2023) has been doing in recent months, is necessary so that even national structures can understand the potential and vulnerability of the cognitive world and the urgent need to defend it.