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    Cyberpsychology Section

    Cyberpsychology is a scientific inter-disciplinary domain that focuses on the psychological phenomena which emerge as a result of the human interaction with digital technology, particularly the Internet.

    About

    Cyberpsychology exists to pursue and formalise a scientific understanding of the impact, dynamic processes and outcomes that democratised digital technologies have enabled in individuals, groups and the wider society.

    By investigating issues around gaming, social media, virtual reality, online learning and virtual interest groups, we hope to raise (and answer) questions about the motivations, experiences, and effects surrounding the interactions between humanity and technology.

    While statistical and theoretical research in this field is largely based around Internet usage, cyberpsychology also includes the study of the psychological ramifications of cyborgs, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality amongst other things.

    Although some of these topics may appear to be the stuff of science fiction, they are quickly becoming science fact, as evidenced by the development of increasingly interdisciplinary approaches involving the fields of biology, engineering, and mathematics.

    As the overlap between man and machine expands, the relevance of human-computer interaction (HCI) research  will only increase. And, with the rising number of Internet and computer users around the world, it is evident that technology's effects on the human psyche will continue to significantly shape both our interactions with each other and our perceptions of the world that is literally "at our fingertips."

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    Our mission

    Our mission is to:

    • initiate, organise and promote a range of activities and produce artefacts that translate the purpose and vision of the group, into high quality and highly valued contributions to the field of Cyberpsychology

    • become the expert source of learning and development for all core members and affiliates, as well as other stakeholders, with an interest in or impacted by Cyberpsychology

    • become the credible professional community of choice for Cyberpsychologists and affiliate members, who are all united by the same objective of furthering and promoting the research in the field

    • be known as the expert advisory body that serves a wide range of stakeholders including government and policy makers, who have a shared interest in understanding, monitoring, regulating, managing and mitigating the impacts of digital technology on the wider society

    • maintain key ethical values of ethical practice, professionalism, and transparency, in all that we do

    Online networking sessions

    We also have a series of online networking events which are a chance for members and non-members to connect and engage with other cyber-enthusiasts! Visit our up-to-date event list.

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    Cyberpsychology Section

    #CyberSectionChat

    Established in 2019, #CyberSectionChat is a monthly scheduled chat session which is focused around specified topics and themes.

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    Cyberpsychology Section

    News

    Cyberpsychology Section

    Events

    Cyberpsychology Section

    Guidelines

    Recommended resources

    Books

    The committee also recommends a number of books which provide some important insight into the work and purpose of cyberpsychology:

    • Attrill, A (2015). Cyberpsychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press
    • Attrill, A., Fullwood, C. (2016). Applied Cyberpsychology: Practical Applications of Cyberpsychological Theory and Research. New York: Palgrave Macmillan
    • Attrill-Smith, A., Fullwood, C., Keep, M., & Kuss, D. J. (2019). Oxford Handbook of Cyberpsychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press
    • Benson, V., & McAlaney, J. (2019). Cyber Influence and Cognitive Threats. Academic Press
    • Benson, V., & McAlaney, J. (2019). Emerging cyber threats and cognitive vulnerabilities. Academic Press
    • Connolly, I., Palmer, M., Barton, H., & Kirwan, G. (2016). An Introduction to Cyberpsychology. New York: Routledge
    • Hadlington, L. (2017). Cybercognition: Brain, behaviour and the digital world. London: Sage
    • Harley, D., Morgan, J., & Frith, H. (2018). Cyberpsychology as everyday digital experiences across the lifespan. New York: Palgrave Macmillan
    • Hurley, O. A. (2018). Sport Cyberpsychology. New York: Routledge
    • Kaye, L. K. (2022). Issues and Debates in Cyberpsychology. Open University Press
    • Kuss, D. J., & Pontes, H. M. (2018). Internet Addiction. Abingdon: Hogrefe
    • McMahon, C. (2019). The Psychology of Social Media. Routledge
    • Meredith, J., Giles, D.., & Stommel, W. (2021). Analysing digital interaction. Palgrave MacMillan
    • Parsons, T. D. (2017). Cyberpsychology and the Brain: The interaction of neuroscience and affective computing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
    • Parsons, T. D. (2019). Ethical Challenges in Digital Psychology and Cyberpsychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
    • Power, A. (2018). Cyberpsychology and Society: Current Perspectives. New York: Routledge
    • Power, A., & Kirwan, G. (2014). Cyberpsychology and New Media: A thematic reader. New York: Routledge
    • Suler, J. (2015). Psychology of the Digital Age: Humans become electric. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
    • Whitty, M. T., & Young, G. (2016). Cyberpsychology: The study of individuals, society and digital technologies. Leicester: Wiley

    Conceptual Models, Theories, and Hypotheses

    Internet-Mediated Research Guidelines

    Journals

    These are some of the journals which cyberpsychology researchers publish in:

    Newsletters

    Scales and Measures

    Teaching resources

    Tools

    Cyberpsychology Courses

    Undergraduate Courses

    Postgraduate Courses

    Career pathways

    There are many applications of cyberpsychology.

    Here are just some of the ways that cyberpsychology can be applied to career routes:

    Download the Cyberpsychology Careers Diagram

    Additionally, there are specific focal areas in cyberpsychology which synergise multiple discipline perspectives such as:

    Jobs

    Search the latest relevant jobs.

    Research groups

    Research groups in Cyberpsychology

    Cyberpsychology Section Committee

    Chair - Dr Dawn Branley-Bell

    Dr Dawn Branley Bell is a Chartered Psychologist of the BPS and was a member of the steering group involved in the formation of the Cyberpsychology section. She is an Associate Professor of Cyberpsychology & Director of the Psychology and Communication Technology Lab (PaCT Lab) at Northumbria University.

    Dr Branley-Bell specialises in cyberpsychology, health and wellbeing, and online behaviour. She has a keen interest in online communication around eating disorders, and self-harm, and the use of tech for health-related interventions. Other interests include exploring the positive side of internet usage, cybersecurity, and behaviour change. You can find her on X and Bluesky @TheCyberPsyche

    Co-Chair Elect, Secretary and Cyberbulletin Team – Dr Lisa Orchard

    Dr Lisa J. Orchard is a Graduate member of the BPS. She specialises in social cyberpsychology and specifically social media use in relation to individual differences. Her research focuses on the role of social media in breastfeeding promotion, support, and decision-making.

    Co-Chair Elect and Editor-in-Chief of Member Publication (Cyberbulletin) – Dr Dave Harley

    Dr Dave Harley is a Chartered Member of the BPS and Principal Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Brighton. His broad research areas cover Cyberpsychology and HCI with a particular interest in older people's appropriation of digital technologies. He is currently engaged in qualitative research looking at experiences of mindfulness in relation to the digital world.

    Treasurer & Conference Lead – Dr Graham Scott

    Dr Graham Scott is based at the University of West Scotland. His primary area of interest is online impression formation with a focus on social networks such a Facebook and Twitter. He is particularly interested in how the language users employ online influences the impressions viewers form of them, and how this may affect their employability. Graham is also actively engaged in psycholinguistic research, particularly how we read and process emotional language.

    Committee Member (Careers, Industry and Outreach/Journal Development) – Prof Linda Kaye

    Prof Linda Kaye is a Chartered Psychologist and a founding member of the BPS Cyberpsychology Section. She is an Associate Head in the Department of Psychology at Edge Hill University and specialises in areas relating to cyberpsychology and explores ways in which online settings can promote social inclusion and well-being. Her research interests broadly explore how online worlds affect our everyday experiences and behaviour, and the extent to which we can understand human psychology from studying people's online behaviour.

    Committee Member (Communications Lead/Research Board Representative) – Dr Catherine Talbot

    Dr Catherine Talbot is a cyberpsychologist specialising in social media, health, and qualitative methods and is currently a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Bournemouth University. She is interested in positive technology usage by people with stigmatised health conditions, and how technologies can be developed to promote social inclusion and foster wellbeing. Her current research focuses on the social identities of people with dementia in online settings.

    Committee Member (Communications) – Dr Danielle Paddock

    Dr Danielle Paddock is a research associate in the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University. She is interested in understanding the risks and opportunities afforded by digital technologies particularly in relation to adolescent development including identity development, peer relationships, body image and mental wellbeing. 

    Committee Member (Careers, Industry and Outreach/Cyberbulletin Team) – Carol Brooks

    Carol Brooks is a business and cyberpsychologist. She is Managing Director of Platinum 3P,  a specialist training and consultancy business focused on supporting organisations and businesses to counter-terrorism and organised crime and is currently completing her PhD by research in criminology and cyberpsychology.

    Committee Member (Cyberbulletin Team) – Dr Darren Chadwick

    Dr Darren D. Chadwick is an Associate Fellow of the BPS. He is a Reader in Applied Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton.  He specialises in the use of information and communication technologies by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their carers. His current cyberpsychology research considers digital inclusion, identity and online risks for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and carer use of online support groups.

    Committee Member (Conference Team) – Dr Beth Bell

    Dr Beth Bell is an Associate Professor in Mental Health & Wellbeing at the University of York. Her research focuses on sociocultural influences on youth mental health, covering pressing issues such as body image, online help-seeking, and harassment.

    Committee Member (Careers, Industry and Outreach) – Dr Paul Marsden

    Dr Paul Marsden lectures in fashion psychology at UAL (University of the Arts London), with a focus on the psychology of wearable technology. He also runs digitalwellbeing.org, a site dedicated to summarising research on the impact of digital technology and AI on human wellbeing. In industry, Paul promotes the need for guidelines on the responsible use of AI and autonomous agents in connected technology and marketing.

    Committee Member (Conference Team – Scientific Chair ) – Dr Nadia Rose Smith

    Bio to follow

    Committee Member (Conference Team) – Dr Sofia Petisca

    Dr Sofia Petisca is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Buckingham. Her main research interests are in exploring people's interactions with technology, how it changes our behaviours, how it affects us, and how it can also provide support. She is interested in Human-Robot interaction specifically, including exploring morality and human dishonest behaviour, and how can robots have a positive impact in society.

    Committee Member (UG Student Rep, Careers, Industry & Outreach) – Fraser Carey

    Fraser Carey is an Applied Psychology Student at Glasgow Caledonian University. He is a cyberpsychology enthusiast and a Digital Champion Volunteer for the Forward Trust.

    Committee Member (PG Student Rep, Careers, Industry & Outreach) – Bethany Thomas

    Bethany Thomas is a PhD researcher at Edge Hill University and an Assistant Lecturer at Arden University. Her research interests focus on digital games and identity.

    Committee Member (PG Student Rep, Careers, Industry & Outreach) – Raul Szekely

    Raul Szekely is a PhD researcher at the University of Surrey. His research integrates cyberpsychology and human-computer interaction (HCI) to evidence, develop and evaluate virtual reality (VR) interventions, serious games, and other digital technologies and emerging media aimed at supporting learning, enhancing health and well-being, and fostering positive societal change.

    Join

    Cyberpsychology is a scientific interdisciplinary domain, which focuses on the psychological phenomena that emerge as a result of the human interaction with digital technology, particularly the internet.

    The Cyberpsychology Section draws together a community of those interested in the outcomes and effects of digital technology for individuals, groups and wider society.

    We strive to ensure technology-based recommendations and developments are evidence-based.

    What the section does for you:

    • Access to the Cyberpsychology Bulletin – our regular members bulletin aims to keep you updated with the latest in cyberpsychology; filled with news stories, events, research insights and book reviews
    • An annual conference dedicated to cyberpsychology and related research
    • Events for continuing professional development, with preferential rates for members
    • Regular networking events, including our monthly Twitter chat (#CyberSectionChat) and student-specific networking through a dedicated social media group and virtual coffee mornings
    • Dedicated careers and outreach teams, working towards a stronger integration between cyberpsychology and industry
    • Dedicated microsite providing a resource bank of cyberpsychological journals, guidelines and tools

    Apply to join

    Membership of the Cyberpsychology Section is only open to members of the British Psychological Society.

    Being a member of the society also has its benefits, such as professional titles, The Psychologist magazine, journal access, and a number of professional guidelines and ethical support.

    If you are not already a BPS member, you can join the Cyberpsychology Section at the same time as applying for membership of the society.

    Apply to join the society

    Member Announcement Email List

    The Cyberpsychology Section uses its membership announcement email list to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues. 

    By becoming a member of the Section you are automatically added to the announcement list.

    To receive these emails you will need to:

    • become a member of the Cyberpsychology Section
    • opt into receiving email communication and provide a working email address

    These preferences can be updated by logging into your member portal.

    If you have any queries, please contact Member Network Services

    To assist us in responding to your query please make sure to include your membership number and quote 'Cyberpsychology Section announcement email' in the subject line.

    Getting involved with the Cyberpsychology Section committee

    The Cyberpsychology Section relies on a wide range of people getting involved, and the work of the Section is largely achieved through the dedication of unpaid volunteers.

    Our volunteers come from a wide range of different backgrounds, whether they be practitioners or academics, or full members or student members, and together form an open and inclusive community.