Using CBT and DBT to Guard Against Influence and Manipulation What Is Cognitive Warfare? Cognitive warfare refers to deliberate efforts by state and non-state actors to influence the way people think, perceive reality, and make decisions. Unlike traditional warfare, which focuses on physical force, cognitive warfare targets the mind itself. It operates through propaganda, disinformation […]
Navigating life’s challenges can feel overwhelming, but using structured methods can greatly simplify your emotional and behavioral responses. One highly effective tool rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is the ABCD Method. Understanding the ABCD Method The ABCD Method helps you systematically reflect on your reactions to life’s events, empowering
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When most people hear the word fitness, their minds often go straight to the gym. We think about squats and bench presses, cardio sessions, maybe a good ruck on a trail somewhere. Physical fitness is familiar territory—it’s visible, measurable, and often goal-oriented. But there’s another side of fitness we don’t talk about nearly enough. A
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Today I have been thinking a lot about influence. It is both a blessing and a curse to be susceptible to influence. On one hand we can learn and grow from positive and helpful influences and on the other we can be tormented and manipulated by coercive and maligned influences. We need positive influences in
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Operational Security (OPSEC) as a concept in a military setting is meant to reduce vulnerabilities by controlling the flow of information in an effort to prevent adversaries from exploiting weaknesses. We can also use the concept of OPSEC to protect our minds from nefarious attempts by others to gain influence over our thoughts, emotions, and
In my teaching role I have the opportunity to take college students through the forest of mirrors that is the world of political and military deception. The course centers on overcoming self-deception and deceptions induced by others through the application of sound critical thinking skills, awareness of heuristics that are helpful and cognitive bias that
