Cyberpsychology – Course Podcast

Jara Kaňková
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This podcast accompanies the bachelor-level course VIEN-PS 214-01 Cyberpsychology at the IES Vienna. The Cyberpsychology course podcast explores how our digital lives shape who we are and how we connect with each other. Drawing on research in psychology and communication, the podcast examines identity in the digital world, online communication and relationships, digital groups and communities, work, education, and therapy in online contexts, excessive internet use, deviant behavior on the internet, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in health and well-being.

Episodes

  1. Feb 7

    Episode 2: Communication in the virtual world

    In this episode, we explore online communication as a complex and psychologically demanding form of interaction, shaped by missing nonverbal cues, evolving norms, and platform constraints. Drawing on psychological theory and research, the episode examines how people adapt to “lean” media through paralanguage and message crafting, how online communication can become hyperpersonal yet ambiguous, and how projection, permanence, and cultural differences shape how messages are created, interpreted, and misunderstood.

    42 min

  2. Feb 7

    Episode 8: Deviant behavior on the internet

    In this episode, we examine deviant and harmful behavior in digital environments, focusing on how online contexts amplify, enable, and reshape behaviors that also exist offline. Drawing on psychological and social research, the episode discusses how online harm often reproduces existing systems of discrimination and violence, why language matters when describing digital abuse, and how moral panics can distort our understanding of online risk. The episode also addresses the role of platform design, reward structures, and media literacy, highlighting the gap between knowing what is safe and actually doing it.

    43 min

  3. Feb 7

    Episode 7: Relationships and love in the digital realm

    In this episode, we explore how digital technologies shape (romantic) relationships and how individuals relate to others through screens. The episode considers how people’s emotional relationships with their devices influence online interaction and highlights the role of transference in digital communication and intimacy. Drawing on psychological theory and research, the episode examines online dating as a transformed romantic landscape, addressing both expanded opportunities for connection and challenges such as choice overload, gamification, and idealized self-presentation. The episode discusses the hyperpersonal model to explain why online connections can intensify quickly and discusses how intentional, strategic use of dating platforms can reduce negative psychological effects and support healthier relationship formation.

    49 min

  4. Feb 7

    Episode 6: AI-mediated communication & health

    In this episode, we explore the growing role of generative AI in health and well-being, focusing on both its potential benefits and its fundamental limitations. Drawing on psychological and ethical considerations, the episode examines the promises of AI in health contexts alongside key risks. The episode emphasizes that AI should supplement, not replace, professional healthcare, and highlights the importance of critical use, verification, and awareness as AI becomes increasingly embedded in health systems.

    33 min

  5. Feb 7

    Episode 5: Problems of excessive internet use

    In this episode, we explore excessive internet use as a question of quality, context, and psychological impact rather than simply time spent online. Drawing on psychological theory and research, the episode discusses why the “addiction” label is often misleading and instead emphasizes reflective self-assessment and intentional use of technology. Practical strategies are introduced to help listeners regain control over their digital habits, including reducing overstimulation, creating boundaries, curating online environments, and developing healthier routines that support attention, balance, and well-being.

    43 min

  6. Feb 7

    Episode 4: Education, work & therapy online

    In this episode, we explore how the internet has become a central space for learning, work, and psychological support, fundamentally reshaping how these domains function in everyday life. Drawing on psychological theory and research, the episode examines online learning across formal and informal contexts, the impact of multitasking and attention on learning, the dynamics of virtual organizations and remote work, and the opportunities and limitations of online counseling.

    35 min

  7. Feb 7

    Episode 3: Groups in the digital realm

    In this episode, we explore online groups as powerful social environments that fulfill a fundamental human need for belonging and shape how people think, feel, and behave. Drawing on psychological theory and research, the episode examines how online groups develop over time, how they influence behavior through compliance, obedience, and conformity, and how digital environments can foster both supportive communities and harmful dynamics such as echo chambers, manipulation, and radicalization.

    48 min
  8. Episode 1: Identity and self in the digital world

    Feb 7

    Episode 1: Identity and self in the digital world

    In this opening episode, we explore how identity is shaped, expressed, and negotiated in digital environments. Drawing on psychological theory and research, the episode examines how psychologists conceptualize identity, how online spaces can allow the expression of the “true self,” and considers the psychological consequences of suppressing important parts of one’s identity. We also discuss how digital environments can function as spaces for identity exploration and integration, particularly for marginalized groups. At the same time, the episode highlights the risks and limitations of online self-expression, including surveillance, permanence, toxic disinhibition, and the reproduction of existing social inequalities.

    48 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

This podcast accompanies the bachelor-level course VIEN-PS 214-01 Cyberpsychology at the IES Vienna. The Cyberpsychology course podcast explores how our digital lives shape who we are and how we connect with each other. Drawing on research in psychology and communication, the podcast examines identity in the digital world, online communication and relationships, digital groups and communities, work, education, and therapy in online contexts, excessive internet use, deviant behavior on the internet, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in health and well-being.

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