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The Psychology of Fake News By Nakiran Rajandran and Stephanie Phang

Singapore Armed Forces, author2025

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Summary

Grey zone conflicts target the human psychology – actors understand and capitalise on the psychological dynamics of ambiguity and manipulation to sow discord, erode trust, and exploit vulnerabilities to achieve a strategic advantage. Our service personnel are prime targets for such operations of influence, deception, and coercion. Hence, it is imperative for us to gain a deep understanding of how aspects of grey zone conflicts affect the psychological well-being and readiness of our servicemen. One tool often used in the grey zone is that of disinformation, popularly known as “fake news”, and this article will focus on this threat, assessing its nature and suggesting counter-measures.