STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL NETWORK INFLUENCE: THE METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL MANIPULATIONS IN CYBERSPACE AND THE SUGGESTION FOR ITS PREVENTION

Miroslav Mitrović, Dragan Vasiljević

DOI Number
https://doi.org/10.22190/TEME200218008M
First page
129
Last page
144

Abstract


Strategic communication is one of the expressions of state power and the instrument for achieving political and the security of national interests. In the context of contemporary conflicts, it is an appearance of hybrid action in the fields of information, the media, the Internet and the wide spectrum of public diplomacy performances. The main goal of strategic communication (SC) is to influence public opinion. In addition, SC strives to move the focus of the public towards cultural values as well as the adjustment of the political system. The main task of strategic communication (SC) is to influence public opinion and its focus on cultural values, the possible adaptation of the political system by "reprogramming" political culture in accordance with the goals set by psychological influence. One of the main channels for influence are social networks. In the paper, we used a multi-criterion analysis to identify the method of prevention pertaining to psychological manipulations in the cyberspace. This paper suggests preventive measures against negative impacts of social networks. In the paper, we used the Analytic Hierarchical Processes for the analysis of hierarchy in the application of preventive measures. Based on the obtained results, we developed and presented the application of preventive measures, to prevent the harmful effects of psychological manipulations in the cyberspace.


Keywords

strategic communication, hybrid warfare, Internet social networks, psychological manipulation, cyberspace.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ajzen, I. (1985). From Intentions to Actions: A Theory of Planned Behavior (11-39). In Kuhl J. and Beckmann J. (Eds.). Action Control. SSSP Springer Series in Social Psychology. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69746-3_2

Ajzen, I. (May 27, 2019). Summary of Theory of Planned Behavior - Abstract. Retrieved from http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_ajzen_theory_planned_behaviour.html.

Benoit, W., & Benoit, P. (2008). Persuasive Messages: The Process of Influence. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell.

Bernstein, G.A., & Borchardt, C.M. (1991). Anxiety disorders of childhood and adolescence: a critical review. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 4, 519-532. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199107000-00001

Braiker, H., (2004). Whos Pulling Your Strings? How to Break The Cycle of Manipulation. New York City: McGraw-Hill.

Christopher, P., (2011a). Getting Better at Strategic Communication. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation.

Christopher, P., (2011b). Strategic Communication Origins, Concepts, and Current Debates. Santa Barbara: Praeger.

Deng, Z., & Liu, S. (2017). Understanding consumer health information-seeking behavior from the perspective of the risk perception attitude framework and social support in mobile social media websites. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 105, 98-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2017.05.014

Gravetter, F., & Forzano, L.A. (2015). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences. Mason, OH, United States: CENGAGE Learning.

Gupta, A., & Dhami, A. (2015). Measuring the impact of security, trust, and privacy in information sharing: A study on social networking sites. Journal of Direct, Data and Digital Marketing Practice, 17(1), 43-53. https://doi.org/10.1057/dddmp.2015.32

Hallahan, K., Holtzhausen, D. R., Van Ruler, B., Verčič, D., & Sriramesh, K. (2007). Defining strategic communication. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 1(1), 3–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/15531180701285244

Hansen, W. (2013). Influence: theory and practice (Master of Science thesis). Monterey California: Naval postgraduate school.

Holtzhausen, D., & Zerfass, A. (2015). Strategic Communication: Opportunities and Challenges of the Research Area (3-17). In the Holtzhausen, D. & Zerfass, A. (Ed.). The Routledge Handbook of Strategic Communication, Routledge. New York: Routledge.https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203094440

Kosinski, M., Bachrach, Y., Kohli, P., Stillwell, D. & Graepel, T. (2014). Manifestations of user personality in website choice and behavior on online social networks. Machine Learning, 95, 357-380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10994-013-5415-y

Laguerre, J. (May 4, 2017). The Milton Model: 27 Powerful Language Patterns. Power Creativity Institute. Retrieved from https://www.pciinstitute.net/nlp/milton-model/

Mitrović, M. (2017). Lobbying-Managing with Strategy Orientated Communication. Political behavior: Cognition, Psychology, & Behavior eJournal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2942002

Mitrović, M. (2019a). Strategic communication in the function of national security. Vojno delo, 1(19), 41-54. DOI: 10.5937/vojdelo1901041М.

Mitrović, M. (2019b). Determinants of Strategic Communication Significant for National Defense and Security. Matica Srpska Social Sciences Quarterly, LXX, 170, 179-194. https://doi.org/10.2298/ZMSDN1970179M

Mitrović, M. (2019c). Strategic communication concept implemented through the corporate political activities – suggested strategy modeling. Strategic management, 24(4), 13-20. DOI: 10.5937/StraMan1904013M

Mitrović, M., & Miljković, M. (2018). Hybrid genesis of information operations in cyberspace. ТEME, XLII, 1359-1372. https://doi.org/10.22190/TEME1804359M

Mitrović, M., & Vulić, A. (2019). Project Management of Strategic Communication in Digital Era. Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, 108, 76-82. https://doi.org/10.2991/senet-19.2019.13

Pineda, J. (2007). Mirror neuron systems: The role of mirroring processes in social cognition. Atlanta, GA: Emory University.

Pissanidis, N., Rõigas H. & Veenendaal, M. (2016). Influence Cyber Operations: The Use of Cyberattacks in Support of Influence Operations. Proceeding from 8th International Conference on Cyber Conflict Cyber Power. Tallinn: NATO CCD COE Publications.

Power, R.A. & Pluess, M. (2015). Heritability estimates of the Big Five personality traits based on common genetic variant. Translational Psychiatry, 5(7), e604. doi: 10.1038/tp.2015.96

Pratkanis, A. (2007). Winning Hearts and Minds: A Social Influence Analysis (pp. 56-85). In Arquilla, J. & Borer, D. (Ed.). Information Strategy and Warfare. New York: Routledge, 2007. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203945636.ch3

Rot, N. (2006). Osnovi socijalne psihologije. [Basics of social psychology]. Beograd: Zavod za udžbenike i nastavna sredstva.

Saaty, T.L. (2008). Decision Making with Analytic Hierarchy Process. International Journal of Services Science, 1, 82. http://doi.org/10.1504/IJSSCI.2008.017590

Sartonen, M., Huhtinen, A.M. & Rhizomatic, M. L. (2016). Target Audiences of the Cyber Domain. Journal of Information Warfare, 15(4), 1-14.

Schwarz, N., Knäuper, B. & Oyserman, D. (2008). The Psychology of Asking Questions. In Leeuw, Joop Hox, Don Dillman (Ed.). International handbook of survey methodology. Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.

Vasiljević, D., Vasiljević, J. & Djurić, A. (2018). Cyber space - definition and classification (pp. 214 – 227). In Nikolić, N. (Ed.). Hybrid Warfare - contemporary conflict dilemma. Belgrade: Strategic Research Institute.

Vidanović, I. (2006). Rečnik socijalnog rada. Beograd: Tiro-erc.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.22190/TEME200218008M

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


© University of Niš, Serbia
Creative Commons licence CC BY-NC-ND
Print ISSN: 0353-7919
Online ISSN: 1820-7804