POLITICAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST ADVERSARIAL COGNITIVE INFLUENCES IN THE CONTEXT OF POLITICAL EPIDEMICS

Burikova I. S.

in the context of increasing complexity within the contemporary information and communication environment, the significance of studying destructive cognitive influences and their impact on the psychological resilience of society continues to grow. This article substantiates the necessity of examining such influences through a political-psychological approach based on the concept of destructive political epidemics. Drawing on the theoretical contributions of A.L. Katkov and A.I. Yuryev, as well as current research in political psychology, the study analyzes the mechanisms behind the formation of informational viruses, the specific features of their spread within digital environments, and the factors that determine societal susceptibility. The analysis demonstrates that restricting or prohibiting information does not eliminate the epidemiological dynamics of destructive meanings, since the key determinant is the level of psychological resilience and the degree of semantic saturation of collective consciousness. A three-component system of countermeasures is proposed, comprising “vaccination” (development of information literacy), preventive measures (strengthening human capital), and the deployment of a positive political epidemic as a tool for constructive semantic replacement. The study concludes that a shift from reactive strategies toward a comprehensive political-psychological model of societal information resilience is required.

Keywords:destructive political epidemics; destructive social epidemics; informational viruses; cognitive threats; psychological resilience; information resilience; demoralization; adaptational disorders; positive political epidemic.