7 Cognitive Tactics Disinfo Uses β and How to See Them Coming
Disinfo doesnβt work because people are irrational.
It works because it understands the mind.
Disinfo doesnβt work because people are irrational.
It works because it understands the mind.
𧡠A recap of 7 cognitive vulnerabilities that political misinformation exploits β and how to recognize them.
#CognitiveSecurity #PsychologicalDefense #Disinformation
#CognitiveSecurity #PsychologicalDefense #Disinformation
Based on:
Pantazi, Hale & Klein (2021)
Social and Cognitive Aspects of the Vulnerability to Political Misinformation
Peer-reviewed | Political Psychology
π onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/poβ¦
Pantazi, Hale & Klein (2021)
Social and Cognitive Aspects of the Vulnerability to Political Misinformation
Peer-reviewed | Political Psychology
π onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/poβ¦
1. Truth Bias Trap
Weβre wired to believe by default.
Unless something triggers doubt, we accept what we hear β especially under stress.
Disinfo exploits this fast-path trust.
Weβre wired to believe by default.
Unless something triggers doubt, we accept what we hear β especially under stress.
Disinfo exploits this fast-path trust.
2. Illusions of Accuracy
The more often we hear something, the more true it feels.
Even known falsehoods gain credibility through repetition.
Familiarity β truth β but it feels that way.
The more often we hear something, the more true it feels.
Even known falsehoods gain credibility through repetition.
Familiarity β truth β but it feels that way.
3. Presupposed Lies
False premises can hide inside innocent-sounding questions.
βWhy did they lie?β assumes guilt before you evaluate truth.
Disinfo embeds lies in grammar.
False premises can hide inside innocent-sounding questions.
βWhy did they lie?β assumes guilt before you evaluate truth.
Disinfo embeds lies in grammar.
4. Meta-Cognitive Myopia
We forget where we learned something β but remember the claim.
Belief outpaces awareness.
Disinfo thrives in that memory gap.
We forget where we learned something β but remember the claim.
Belief outpaces awareness.
Disinfo thrives in that memory gap.
5. Comfort of Belief
We hold beliefs that protect identity, not just facts.
If truth threatens our group or values, we reject it.
Disinfo offers comfort β and belonging.
We hold beliefs that protect identity, not just facts.
If truth threatens our group or values, we reject it.
Disinfo offers comfort β and belonging.
6. Information Overload
Too much input short-circuits our filters.
We turn to simplicity and certainty.
Disinfo wins by being easy to absorb in chaos.
Too much input short-circuits our filters.
We turn to simplicity and certainty.
Disinfo wins by being easy to absorb in chaos.
7. Misplaced Vigilance
People donβt just believe lies β they reject truth.
Skepticism becomes tribal.
Disinfo flips trust instincts upside down.
People donβt just believe lies β they reject truth.
Skepticism becomes tribal.
Disinfo flips trust instincts upside down.
Final Takeaways:
β Disinfo isnβt random. Itβs optimized.
β It hijacks trust, not just truth
β Vulnerability isnβt stupidity β itβs cognitive structure
β Psychological defense starts with recognizing the terrain
β Disinfo isnβt random. Itβs optimized.
β It hijacks trust, not just truth
β Vulnerability isnβt stupidity β itβs cognitive structure
β Psychological defense starts with recognizing the terrain
Series Hashtags:
#CognitiveSecurity
#Disinformation
#PsychologicalDefense
#InfoOps
#PostTruth
#CognitiveSecurity
#Disinformation
#PsychologicalDefense
#InfoOps
#PostTruth
Disinfo doesnβt need your belief.
It needs your attention, your emotion, your doubt.
This map helps you reclaim those β and help others do the same.
Save it. Share it. Teach it.
It needs your attention, your emotion, your doubt.
This map helps you reclaim those β and help others do the same.
Save it. Share it. Teach it.
β’ β’ β’
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