METHODS AND COMPONENTS OF MODERN INFORMATION WARFARE, STUDYING ITS INFLUENCE ON PEOPLE'S CONSCIOUSNESS AND BEHAVIOR

Abstract

The article analyzes the main methods and components of information warfare and its impact on people and society. Various aspects of information warfare as one of the intellectual types of confrontation are considered. The forms, methods and components of information wars, their impact on the consciousness and behavior of people and society have been studied. The author drew attention to the onset of a new stage of information wars, in which information conflict ceases to be a means of ensuring combat operations and becomes an independent phenomenon that requires more advanced research in this direction. Attention is focused on such an important form of information warfare as psychological warfare. The influence on a personʼs psyche through intimidation, threats with the aim of encouraging a certain planned pattern of behavior is characterized as psychological or psychotropic pressure. The purpose of intimidation and threats is to induce a certain planned pattern of behavior. The main types of informational and psychological weapons, methods of their use, which are aimed at suppressing destroying, disorganizing and disorienting the objects of influence, have been studied. Informational and psychological weapons are capable of disrupting the mental health of the population, inciting spontaneous actions, causing temporary or irreversible changes, directing the personality in the direction necessary for the subject of influence. It was concluded that in the 21th century, not only the destructive capabilities of information wars will grow, and, as a result, requirements for ensuring the information security of the state, the consciousness of society and man. The modernity of the information war requires not only rethinking, but also the study of new theories aimed at protecting oneʼs own information space.
 Keywords: information; information war; information influence; information weapon; information space; information struggle; propaganda; psychological influence; psychological weapon; consciousness.