Online Behavioral Dynamics of Psychological Harm: Technology-Facilitated Abuse

Dear Colleagues,

While digital technologies have significantly enhanced connectivity and access to information, they have also ushered in a troubling era of abuse perpetrated through these very platforms. This Special Issue, entitled “Online Behavioral Dynamics of Psychological Harm: Technology-Facilitated Abuse”, seeks to explore the complex dimensions of abuse that are mediated by technology. As we delve deeper into the digital age, incidents of online harassment, cyberstalking, digital impersonation, sextortion, and doxxing continue to escalate, affecting individuals across various demographics and geographies.

The digital arena has become a double-edged sword; on the one hand, it offers unprecedented opportunities for communication and social interaction, while on the other, it serves as a new platform for perpetrating various forms of abuse. These abuses range from image-based sexual abuse to sophisticated cyberbullying and manipulation tactics that exploit the anonymity and reach of the internet. Importantly, technology-facilitated abuse can transcend physical boundaries and have lasting psychological, social, and economic impacts on victims.

This Special Issue aims to gather empirical research, theoretical contributions, and methodological advancements that address the prevention and identification of, and response to, technology-facilitated abuse. Contributions may explore, but are not limited to, the psychological profiles of perpetrators, the social and legal ramifications of digital abuse, and the effectiveness of current interventions and policies aimed at mitigating such abuse. We encourage submissions that employ diverse methodologies including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.

The goal of this Special Issue is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on technology-facilitated abuse, propose innovative solutions, and foster a dialog among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to enhance understanding and develop more effective countermeasures. We welcome submissions from a variety of disciplines including psychology, sociology, law, information technology, and criminology, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of this pressing issue.

Your insights and contributions to this critical field can help pave the way for safer digital environments and social structures more resilient to technology-facilitated abuse.

Dr. Michal Dolev-Cohen
Dr. Gaia Cuccì
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.