PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF INFORMATION WARFARE

Abstract

The article has analyzed views of domestic and foreign authors on the essence and content of the concepts of "information warfare", "psychological war" and "information-psychological war" as components of a hybrid war. Within the psychological paradigm, information warfare is understood as the latent impact of information on individual, group and mass consciousness through methods of propaganda, misinformation, manipulation to form new views on the socio-political organization of society through changes in values and basic attitudes. The concept of "world psychological warfare", various theoretical approaches, tools of information and theoretical approach are considered. The tools of the information warfare against Ukraine are propaganda; manipulation; attempts to change public opinion; psychological and psychotropic pressure; spreading rumors, blocking TV and radio broadcasts; removal of Ukrainian channels in the occupied territories; disinformation and distribution of fake news; distribution of fake information. The defining features of the concepts of "information warfare" and "psychological war" are that information warfare is conducted mostly in cyberspace, while psychological – in social space. The organizational differences of the information influence of the Russian Federation in the basic training of law enforcement specialists are investigated. The main directions of work, forms of information warfare activities which were carried out by the Russian party are characterized. The main psychological challenges of modern information wars are shown. The psychological challenges caused by the war are identified, which are conditionally divided into the following four groups: challenges to Ukrainians as a community; challenges to the mental health of the individual; challenges to psychological well-being; challenges to Ukrainian psychologists as a professional community. In the course of the study, recommendations for confrontation in the information warfare were formed. The main necessary measures to counteract the information aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine are suggested.