Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M1173

Trojan Horse

Trojan Horse
SystemsHigh supportSystems Theory
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

By disguising as a harmless or attractive gift, one enters the opponent's defenses, then releases destructive or controlling power.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Entry strategy: If a frontal attack fails (e.g., customer rejects sales pitch), try packaging your intent in a 'free course' or 'useful tool' (the horse), first enter the other's system, then seek conversion.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Superficially harmless, internally malicious, inducing the target to actively bring it into the system. The mechanism is disguise and exploitation of trust.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_HorseZH · Explicit
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