Cyber security psychology

Max amount of FITech students: 20 (Please note that the course is full atm)

Persons without a valid study right at a Finnish university or university of applied sciences have preference to this course.

The psychology of the user is important, but has been largely overlooked for many years. Through understanding the user, and how they engage with cyber security, will only bring positive changes to organisational security, and to public safety.

This course provides an overview of how the psychology of users are influenced by cyber security, and how cyber security is affected by the psychology of users. Psychological-, cognitive-, behavioral-, social-, and neuro- science perspectives, will be applied to understand users and their individual differences, and understand criminals, crimes and attacks. This will be examined through the context of at the environment in which it happens, and examining what makes the online world different to the offline world.

Course contents

• Introduction to user psychology
• Individual differences and cyber security
• Digital inclusion
• Trust and privacy
• Security-related technostress
• Authentication, psychology and inclusion
• Psychology of social engineering
• Psychological aspects in cyber terrorism

Learning outcomes

After completing this course you will have

• a good understanding of the psychology of users; the basic theories and principles in psychology that could be applied to the user interaction with cyber security
• a good knowledge of the key issues users have to face while engaging with security, and the issues cyber security professionals have to face when attempting to improve users’ security hygiene, within the home and organizational context
• knowledge and understanding of key contemporary research topics in the field of cyber security, from the psychological perspective.

Course material

Study materials will be a combination of lecture videos, academic articles and other materials available online, including industry reports and news articles.

Teaching schedule

• Lectures on Tuesdays and Thursdays (recordings are made available).
• Discussion group on Tuesdays and Thursdays 15:15–16 in Zoom (not mandatory).

Completion methods

• Students will be expected to watch lectures, undertake the assignments, and read from the key texts recommended for the course.
• Course assignment: essay/report on relevant topic.

More information in the University of Jyväskylä study guide.

You can get a digital badge after completing this course.

psykologia kyberturvallisuus tietoturva