The technology in cyber-psychology research is the Internet, although the area considers human interactions with many devices, including mobile computing, game consoles, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. The way people communicate and how has changed meanwhile the introduction of communicative digital technologies. Research provides evidence for the global effect these technologies have on societies, both positive and negative. Cyberpsychology research on the internet, all through area considers human interactions with many devices, including mobile computing, games consoles, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. However, forensic psychology is the potential for cyber-criminal cases solved including in work on such as offender rehabilitation, victimology, offender profiling, and crime reduction strategies for cybercrimes. It may also help juries and police officers serving in cybercrime cases.
Figure 1 – Connecting Areas of Cyber Psychology
David Wall (2001) suggested four areas of harmful activity online, specifically
- ‘cybertrespass’ (unauthorized passing of virtual boundaries);
‘- cyber deceptions/thefts’ (such as identity theft and fraud);
- ‘cyber pornography/obscenity’ (such as publishing explicit materials) and
- ‘cyber violence’ (such as cyberstalking or hate speech)
Therefore, Cyber-crime Science = Crime Science + Information Security.
Many parents are concerned about the risks of technology for their children, with the greatest fear likely to be the presence of sexual predators who may be communicating with young people online. But the risk factors for young people are virtual, and there are many excellent resources for individuals who may be concerned by these threats. Other instances where cyber bullying and cyber stalking might be considered illegal can occur if hate speech forms part of the online communication, or if a ‘revenge porn’ image of an underage victim is circulated.
Kirwan and Power (2013) differentiate between three types of cybercrime. One type consists of crimes against the virtual person, including those which occur in online virtual worlds as described above. A second type identified by Kirwan and Power, Internet-enabled offences, includes types of crime that occur without the use of the Internet, but which are made easier or intensified because of Internet technologies. Examples of such offences include child predation and fraud.
Consequently day by day cybercrimes are increasing so forensic psychologists and cyber psychologists have to work together to find ways to prevent them. So that we have necessary suggestions to face and prevent future problems. Here it is also necessary to know how to cybercriminal thinks, how he scares people and collects data, and whether he has thinking power while committing a wrongdoing things so that his human personality can be known for an improved understanding of his online behaviour. The intention is that in the virtual world it becomes precisely tough to judge whether in reality lying or deceitful or telling the truth and we cannot even know from where that person operates his device online.
Internet Addiction Disorder/ Problematic Internet Use
Figure 2 - Internet Addiction Disorder
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the APA, is considered used to classify mental disorders. The DSM-5 has identified Internet gamers as an at-risk population, who may develop dependence or an addiction to online gaming. The DSM-5 outlines the proposed criteria for the inclusion of Internet Gaming Disorder in the manual: ‘Persistent and recurrent use of the Internet to engage in games, often with other players, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.
The Internet games, withdrawal symptoms when not playing, tolerance, unsuccessful attempts to control usage, loss of interest in previous hobbies, continued excessive use of Internet games despite knowing that it is causing problems, deception, escapism, and the loss or making vulnerable of a significant relationship, job, education or career. Internet gaming may be similar to gambling as the brain’s reward systems are activated and can be considered behavioural addictions (DSM-5).
The research comes from Asian countries and looks mainly at young males. These studies suggest that persistent use of the Internet can lead to the pathways in the brain being triggered in the same way as a drug addict’s brain. The neurological responses are feelings of pleasure and reward, which are manifested as addictive behaviour.
The rapidly behaviour environment worldwide in growth and use of the Internet. Hassan’s (2008) contribution to the Digital Media and Society Series in which he points out that we now exist in an information society that has “caused the most significant society to shift since the social Industrial Revolution”. It is a shift that has created a participatory and self-broadcasting culture, with websites such as YouTube and Instagram extending beyond local communities and infrastructures to a worldwide community. There is an inter-reliant relationship between users posting material and others accessing that material. The information on the Internet is one of the most basic and applied aspects of online behaviour.
Relationships with Emotion & Behave in Virtual World
Expression of our emotion with emoji, using smiles in chats, emails & online forums
Computer disorders
- Anxiety disorders: technological environments may be a source of anxiety
- OCD: repeatedly checking software and updating software, repeatedly backing up files or saving all files, versions and saving all your emails, and repeatedly filing your files
- Mood disorders: depression- a person can turn to the internet when depressed, and find unhealthy sites about things like suicide
- Computer addiction- Mood modification, Tolerance, Withdrawal symptoms, Conflict, and Relapse.
Computer Addiction or Cyber addiction or Internet Addictive Disorders: The psychological symptoms
• Having a sense of well-being or euphoria while at the computer.
• Inability to stop the activity and craving for more time at the computer
• Neglect of family and friends, lying to employers and family about his activities. Problems with school or job.
• Feeling empty, depressed, or irritable when not at the computer.
Along with the psychological symptoms, physical symptoms like carpal tunnel syndrome, dry eyes, migraine, headaches, backaches, eating irregularities, failure to attend to personal hygiene, and sleep disturbances are also known to occur.
The unknown people now in the virtual world keep on adding friends interacting and it`s a great platform we have social media like Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook, WeChat, Telegram, Twitter, and many more. We got good to you know finding friends. So we can earn knowledge about cyber security on the digital internet connected globally to all. The human mind is associated with all the networks and servers on World Wide Web. However, all the game starts in mind. The people how to perceive things, how they behave, and how they interact in the digitally connected world. The effect of the positive side and negative side effects also. Our brain reacts in certain ways so forensic psychology plays an important role. How it`s impacting the mindset and the prospect of the behaviour changing the virtual world. People tell lies, make fake accounts with wrong information, the fake picture for the wrong name, they hide their identity. The people know that no one caught you and no one to see what is their personality.
However, Technology can be used to help rescue and cure poor mental health. Cybercrime has been around for some time, but articles show that during the global COVID pandemic, rates of cyber threats have risen 30,000 percent. Cyber criminals prey on the fact that over the past year, many are working from home, distracted and generally overstressed. As forensic cyber psychologist, we now have to be prepared to face future challenges. Cybercrimes are financially motivated, but the emotional and psychological trauma in the aftermath of such attacks has rarely been brought to the surface. cyber crimes also greatly affect the individuals who fall victim to them. Following a cyber-attack, many of the victims report feeling traumatized, robbed, vulnerable, or scared an attack can happen again. Feelings of guilt and shame are often compounded when they are blamed by their organization, family members, or society in general for falling victim to the attack/scam. So we have to be prepared for all the necessary situations for cyber criminals to help rehabilitate their personalities and cyber victims and encourage and sensitize the victims to report against cyber criminals.
Final Words
The multidisciplinary aspects of ‘Cyberpsychology’ research, conducting a content analysis to appropriately identify relevant concepts, and conceptual themes. Cyberpsychology is the field focused on the study of the mind within the context of human-computer interaction. Forensic cyberpsychology is about understanding both your own people and the people targeting you. Only by taking a psychological approach can you truly keep your people, systems, and data safe and secure from those who would do them harm.
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