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Presentation
Presentation
The Cyberpsychology course unit addresses fundamental concepts associated with the impact of technology on human behaviour. It explores how virtual environments shape our identities, social relationships and mental health, as well as how the most recent technologies, including artificial intelligence systems, reshape interaction and the delivery of psychological care. Additionally, it focuses on the ethical and effective application of technology in psychological practice and research.
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Class from course
Class from course
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Degree | Semesters | ECTS
Degree | Semesters | ECTS
Bachelor | Semestral | 5
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Year | Nature | Language
Year | Nature | Language
3 | Optional | Português
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Code
Code
ULHT35-7756
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Prerequisites and corequisites
Prerequisites and corequisites
Not applicable
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Professional Internship
Professional Internship
Não
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Syllabus
Syllabus
Cyberpsychology and Cyberspace Cybersecurity Scientific Research in Digital Contexts Primary and secondary research; Ethical issues Online Human Interactions Mediated communication; Self, identity and relationships; Influence and group dynamics; Negative behaviours Cyberbullying Definition, types and roles; Contextual and individual variables; Prevention and intervention Problematic Internet Use Diagnosis and measurement; Risk and protective factors; Persuasive design Technology in Specific Contexts Ageing and technology adoption; Work, technostress and well-being; Online learning and e-learning Digital Games and Serious Games Psychological processes in gaming; Serious games and gamification; Games in assessment and rehabilitation; Ethics and design Extended (XR) and Virtual Reality (VR), Virtual Humans and AI Immersion and presence; Avatars, synthetic agents and AI systems; Clinical applications, apps and support tools
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Objectives
Objectives
LO1 - Describe the concept of Cyberpsychology and its interdisciplinary relevance in the current digital context. LO2 - Analyse the impact of technology on behaviour and well-being across contexts and populations, including online risk behaviours, ageing and work. LO3 - Identify the main threats and best practices in digital security for safe internet use. LO4 - Analyse the evolution of cyberspace and its implications for communication and technology-mediated interactions. LO5 - Characterise the applications of technology, such as games and extended reality (XR), across areas of Psychology, including assessment, rehabilitation and intervention. LO6 - Apply research methodologies to the validation of digital solutions, producing a scientific article and a poster from empirical data. LO7 - Critically appraise the ethical and deontological aspects of Cyberpsychology, including those arising from the use of artificial intelligence systems.
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Teaching methodologies
Teaching methodologies
The active methodology is reflected in the direct involvement of students in research within the HEI-Lab research unit, through two authentic learning experiences. In the group assignment, students carry out a secondary analysis of data: working from a Cyberpsychology dataset provided by the teaching team, each group formulates its own hypotheses, selects and runs the appropriate statistical procedures and interprets the results in the light of the literature, presenting them orally. In the individual assignment, the use of a generative AI tool to produce an ethical dilemma is mandatory; students then critically appraise and reformulate its output, in an exercise in critical AI literacy. This practical approach is essential for acquiring the knowledge and skills inherent in the use of diverse scientific methodologies in Psychology. Various multimedia resources, such as videos, podcasts and real-time interaction tools, support and stimulate dialogue in class.
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References
References
Attrill-Smith, A., Fullwood, C., Keep, M., & Kuss, D. J. (Eds.). (2019). The Oxford handbook of cyberpsychology. Oxford University Press. Kirwan, G., Connolly, I., Barton, H., & Palmer, M. (Eds.). (2024). An introduction to cyberpsychology (2nd ed.). Routledge. Parsons, T. D. (2019). Ethical challenges in digital psychology and cyberpsychology. Cambridge University Press. Power, A. (2018). Cyberpsychology and society: Current perspectives. Routledge.
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Assessment
Assessment
A unidade curricular adota a modalidade de avaliação contínua, conforme o Regulamento Geral de Avaliação da Universidade.
Regimes e Componentes de Avaliação
Para ter acesso à Avaliação Contínua, o estudante deve cumprir o requisito mínimo de assiduidade de 70% de presença.
Componentes da Avaliação Contínua:
A avaliação contínua é composta por dois Testes de Avaliação individual, com um peso de 25% cada. Adicionalmente, integra um Trabalho Individual escrito e o respectivo pitch com uma ponderação de 5% e 10%, respetivamente. O trabalho de grupo consiste numa análise secundária de dados. A partir de uma base de dados no âmbito da Ciberpsicologia, disponibilizada pela equipa docente, cada grupo formula as suas próprias hipóteses de investigação a partir das variáveis disponíveis, seleciona e executa os procedimentos estatísticos adequados e interpreta os resultados à luz da literatura. A avaliação incide sobre a apresentação oral deste trabalho (30%).
A participação em experiências, ou a sua substituição por uma análise de um artigo científico, contribui com 5% da nota.
Avaliação Final (Época de Recurso / Especial): A Avaliação Final tem uma ponderação de 100% e consiste num exame escrito com uma ponderação de 100% da nota final, que incidirá sobre a totalidade dos conteúdos teóricos e práticos. A avaliação final consta de um exame escrito que inclui os conteúdos das aulas teóricas e práticas, e exige uma classificação mínima de 10 valores.
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Mobility
Mobility
Yes
