Abstract:
The article examines the cognitive biases of Russians that have led to widespread
support for the Kremlin's criminal policies, which distort thinking, influence beliefs, and affect the
decisions and judgments Russians make every day. The author notes that the rapid pace of
publication of messages and news releases, as well as the perceived need to quickly respond to
them, encourages the Russian population to "think fast" (reflexively and emotionally) as opposed to
"thinking slowly" (rationally and prudently). Such concepts as cognitive biases and logical errors
are distinguished. Cognitive biases are viewed as systematic errors in thinking that arise as a result
of processing and interpreting information in the surrounding world that influence the decisions
and judgments of the population. According to the author, it was cognitive prejudices that
influenced the formation of individual and group beliefs and behavior of Russians in favor of the
tactical or strategic goals of the aggressor, the subjugation of society without the use of direct force
or coercion.
