conference paper
A Study on the Concept of Cyber Cognitive Warfare and Case Study Methodology From a Psychological Perspective
Abstract
Cyber cognitive warfare, which manipulates the opponent's cognition to change behavior in inter-state warfare, is emerging as an important element with the advancement of science and technology. Human behavior is based on psychology, and psychology provides scientific grounds for cyber cognitive warfare, but existing cyber cognitive warfare studies have only determined the cause of behavior as cognitive manipulation, and there is no research interpreting it from a psychological perspective. Therefore, this paper presents a methodology that can explain the characteristics of cyber cognitive warfare from a psychological perspective and the mechanism by which behavior is changed through cognitive manipulation using Skinner's operant conditioning theory, a behavioral psychology. Skinner's operant conditioning theory is a theory that intentionally changes and reinforces behavior, and as it is a theory that has been proven to change behavior through various experimental results, we applied it to cases of inter-state cyber cognitive warfare such as the Russia-Ukraine War and interpreted the mechanism by which behavior is changed. In addition, in the process of interpreting the behavior change mechanism, we presented a control variable management plan based on the research results that behavioral results can vary depending on the influence of control variables such as the intervention of a third country. In conclusion, this study is expected to serve as a foundation for scientifically identifying the causes of behavioral changes through a case study methodology of cyber cognitive warfare from a psychological perspective, as cyber cognitive warfare is inherently invisible, gradually permeates the target, and by the time the impact is recognized, it is often too late to respond. © 2025 Curran Associates Inc.. All rights reserved.
Curator note
Cyber cognitive warfare, which manipulates the opponent's cognition to change behavior in inter-state warfare, isemerging as an important element with the advancement of science and technology. Human behavior is based on psychology,and psychology provides scientific grounds for cyber cognitive warfare, but existing cyber cognitive warfare studies have onlydetermined the cause of behavior as cognitive manipulation, and there is no research interpreting it from a psychologicalperspective. Therefore, this paper presents a methodology that can explain the characteristics of cyber cognitive warfarefrom a psychological perspective and the mechanism by which behavior is changed through cognitive manipulation usingSkinner's operant conditioning theory, a behavioral psychology. Skinner's operant conditioning theory is a theory thatintentionally changes and reinforces behavior, and as it is a theory that has been proven to change behavior through variousexperimental results, we applied it to cases of inter-state cyber cognitive warfare such as the Russia-Ukraine War andinterpreted the mechanism by which behavior is changed. In addition, in the process of interpreting the behavior changemechanism, we presented a control variable management plan based on the research results that behavioral results can varydepending on the influence of control variables such as the intervention of a third country. In conclusion, this study isexpected to serve as a foundation for scientifically identifying the causes of behavioral changes through a case studymethodology of cyber cognitive warfare from a psychological perspective, as cyber cognitive warfare is inherently invisible,gradually permeates the target, and by the time the impact is recognized, it is often too late to respond.