# Seithar Cognitive Defense Taxonomy (SCT)

Cognitive manipulation patterns that operate below standard DISARM technique granularity. These describe the psychological mechanisms that make influence operations effective.

## SCT-001 — Narrative Injection
Inserting a new narrative frame into an existing information ecosystem. The injected narrative is designed to appear organic — as if it emerged naturally from community discourse rather than being introduced externally.

**Detection:** Look for sudden appearance of novel framing that lacks traceable origin within the community. Check earliest instances for coordination patterns.

## SCT-002 — Emotional Priming
Content designed to elevate emotional arousal (fear, anger, disgust, outrage) as a precondition for subsequent narrative delivery. The priming content itself may be factually accurate — its purpose is to create receptive psychological state.

**Detection:** Sequencing analysis — if emotional content consistently precedes specific geopolitical framing, suspect deliberate priming.

## SCT-003 — Substrate Priming
Preparing the cognitive environment for a specific narrative without delivering that narrative directly. The initial wave establishes emotional context, vocabulary, and conceptual frames that make the target narrative feel natural when it arrives.

**Detection:** Two-wave pattern — Wave 1 (emotional/contextual) followed by Wave 2 (geopolitical framing). Check for coordinated timing between waves.

## SCT-004 — Certainty Exploitation
Targeting audiences who exhibit high confidence in their existing beliefs. These audiences are paradoxically more vulnerable to manipulation because they do not question information that appears to confirm their worldview.

**Detection:** Content that offers superficially confirming evidence while subtly shifting the conclusion or attribution.

## SCT-005 — Amplification Embedding
Designing content so that the act of debunking, fact-checking, or discussing it further amplifies the core claim. The content is engineered to be "sticky" — even negative engagement spreads it.

**Detection:** Content where the headline/claim is more memorable than any correction. Evaluate whether engagement (even critical) serves the originator's goals.

## SCT-006 — Identity Anchoring
Linking a narrative to the target audience's identity (national, religious, professional, subcultural) so that rejecting the narrative feels like rejecting part of their identity.

**Detection:** Content that frames acceptance/rejection of a claim as a test of group loyalty or identity.

## SCT-007 — Wetiko Pattern
Named after the Algonquin concept of a mind-virus. The pattern is complete when targets begin independently reproducing the influence narrative as if it were their own original analysis. At this stage, the operation is self-sustaining and no longer requires external input.

**Detection:** Monitor for organic reproduction of specific framing/terminology by accounts with no connection to the original operation. High wetiko penetration indicates successful deep narrative embedding.
