Cognitive warfare is a form of non-kinetic conflict that targets the human mind rather than just physical infrastructure. A critical element of modern, unrestricted warfare where social media, information technologies, and psychology are weaponized to manipulate public perception, thought processes, and decision-making (Flynn and Cutler, 2022). It utilizes neurobiological as well as social sciences to influence how people think. Components of cognitive warfare include:

The Mind as the Battlefield: The primary objective is to change not just what people think, but how they think and act, aimed at eroding trust, creating confusion, and inducing disorder.

Information as a Weapon: Social media platforms and digital information are used to influence, manipulate, and destabilize, blurring the lines between military and civilian spheres.

Fifth Generation Warfare (5GW): Flynn describes this as a shift from traditional battles (1st–3rd Gen) to a form of war where non-state actors, ideological extremists, and decentralized networks use psychological operations, cyberattacks, and media manipulation to achieve strategic advantages, often without firing a shot.

Goal of Subversion: It seeks to weaken opponents from within by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities, creating divisions, and spreading disinformation to destabilize societies.

(Flynn, M. (Ret.), & Cutler, B. (2022). Introduction to 5GW: The citizen's guide to fifth generation warfare. Boone Cutler Media Enterprise, LLC). (Strauss Center: National security challenges – Insights from social, neurobiological, and complexity sciences. Topical Strategic Multi-Layer Assessment (SMA) and U.S. Army ERDC multi-agency/multi-disciplinary white papers in support of national security challenges. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. https://www.erdc.usace.army.mil).