Psychological Features of Individuals Prone to Cyber Victimization

223

Abstract

The article discusses the results of the empirical research into the psychological features of individuals prone to cyber victimization. As a theoretical basis, this paper uses the analysis of the findings of the studies conducted by the Russian as well as foreign researchers, that indicate presence of the specific traits among victims of cyber crime. The focus group that took part in the research includes 78 adult users of the VK social network. The respondents who became victims of cyber scams more than twice over the past three years were identi-fied as the individuals prone to cyber victimization. The following techniques were used for the empirical data collection: Multifactorial personality questionnaire (16 PF) by R.B. Cattell, “Level of subjective control” test by V.F. Bazhin, E.A. Golynkina and A.M. Atkind and State-Trait anxiety inventory by C. Spielberger (adapted by Y. Khanin). The results of the conducted research show that one's tendency towards cyber victimization can be explained by the presence of certain specific emotional and interpersonal traits. The findings of this study could be used as major targets for designing preventive programs against crimes in cyber space.

General Information

Keywords: cyber victimization, cyber crime, personality traits, subjective control

Journal rubric: Methodological Problems of Legal Psychology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2022120214

Received: 16.02.2022

Accepted:

For citation: Vlasova N.V., Buslaeva E.L. Psychological Features of Individuals Prone to Cyber Victimization [Elektronnyi resurs]. Psikhologiya i pravo = Psychology and Law, 2022. Vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 194–206. DOI: 10.17759/psylaw.2022120214. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

  1. Antonyan E.A., Kleshchina E.N. Kiberviktimnost’ [Cyber Visibility]. Vestnik Permskogo instituta FSIN Rossii = Vestnik of Perm Institute of the Federal Penal Service, 2019, no. 3 (34), pp. 5–10. (In Russ.).
  2. Belyakova M.Yu., Bulygina V.G., Tokareva G.M. Sotsial’no-psikhologicheskie i patopsikhologicheskie faktory riska soversheniya povtornykh obshchestvenno opasnykh deyanii u lits s negativno-lichnostnymi rasstroistvami [Socio-psycological and pathopsychological factors of risk of reoffending among mentally ill with negative personality disorders] [Elektronnyi resurs]. Psikhologiya i parvo = Psychology and Law, 2015. Vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1–14. URL: https://psyjournals.ru/psyandlaw/2015/n1/76141.shtml (Accessed 16.01.2022) (In Russ.).
  3. Bulygina V.G., Abdrazyakova A.M., Kovalenko I.V. Metodika otsenki samokontrolya u nesovershennoletnikh. Sudebnaya psikhiatriya. Sudebno-psikhiatricheskaya ekspertiza nesovershennoletnikh. Moscow: FGU “GNTs SSP Roszdrava” Publ., 2008. Vol. 5, pp. 14–28. (In Russ.).
  4. Vlasova N.V. Psikhologicheskaya profilaktika vovlecheniya molodezhi v kiberprestupnye soobshchestva [Psychological prevention of youth involvement into cybercriminal communities]. Blagopoluchie i bezopasnost’ v usloviyakh sotsial’nykh transformatsii: materialy X Mezhdunarodnogo simpoziuma (9–10 iyulya 2019 g.) = Wellbeing and security in the face of social transformations. Proceedings of the X International Symposium (July, 9–10, 2019). Yekaterinburg, 2019, pp. 203–206. (In Russ.).
  5. Zhakupzhanov A.O. Viktimologicheskie faktory kiberprestupnosti [Victimological factors of cybercrime]. Altaiskii yuridicheskii vestnik = Altai Law Journal, 2019. no. 3 (27), pp. 75–82. (In Russ.).
  6. Kuznetsova L.E., Eroshenko A.N. Psikhologicheskie osobennosti proyavleniya viktimnogo povedeniya u sovremennoi molodezhi. Aktual’nye voprosy sovremennoi psikhologii: materialy II Mezhdunar. nauch. konf. Chelyabinsk: Dva komsomol’tsa. 2013, pp. 73–75. (In Russ.).
  7. Makarevskaya Yu.E., Belenko S.S. Psikhologiya zhertvy: vzaimosvyaz’ tendentsii k samoobvineniyu konformnosti lichnosti. Kochenovskie chteniya — 2020. Psikhologiya i pravo v sovremennoi Rossii. Sbornik tezisov uchastnikov Vserossiiskoi konferentsii po yuridicheskoi psikhologii s mezhdunarodnym uchastiem. Moscow: MGPPU Publ., 2020, pp. 36–38. (In Russ.).
  8. Mudrik A.V. Viktimologiya. Moscow: Magistr, 2002. 524 p. (In Russ.).
  9. Rivman D.V., Ustinov V.S. Viktimologiya. Saint Peterburg: Gardarika, 2000. 320 p. (In Russ.).
  10. Safuanov F.S., Dokuchaeva N.V. Osobennosti lichnosti zhertv protivopravnykh posyagatel’stv v Internete [Personality characteristics of victims of illegal attacks on the Internet] [Elektronnyi resurs]. Psikhologiya i parvo = Psychology and Law, 2015. Vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 80–93. doi:10.17759/psylaw.2015050407 (In Russ.).
  11. Tropina T.L. Bor’ba s kiberprestupnost’yu: vozmozhna li razrabotka universal’nogo mekhanizma? [Addressing the problem of cybercrime: is it possible to develop universal legal framework on the international level?] Mezhdunarodnoe pravosudie = International Justice, 2012, no. 3 (4), pp. 86–95. (In Russ.).
  12. Yatsenko T.E. Psikhologicheskaya diagnostika viktimnosti kak sotsial’no-psikhologicheskogo svoistva lichnosti. Aktual’nye problemy sovremennoi nauki, tekhniki i obrazovaniya = Actual Problems of Contemporary Science, Technology and Education, 2019. Vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 128–133. (In Russ.).
  13. Ngo F.T., Paternoster R. Cybercrime Victimization: An examination of Individual and Situational level factors. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 2011. Vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 773–793.
  14. Gilboa N. Elites, Lamers, Narcs and Whores: exploring the computer underground. In L. Cherny, E. R. Weise (eds.). Wired Women: Gender and New Realities in Cyberspace. Seattle: Seal Press, 1996. P. 98–113.
  15. Holt T.J., Bossler A.M. Examining the applicability of lifestyle-routineactivities theory for cybercrime victimization. Deviant Behavior, 2009. Vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 1–25. doi:10.1080/01639620701876577
  16. Reyns B.W., Fisher B.S., Bossler A.M., Holt T.J. Opportunity and Self-Control: Do they Predict Multiple Forms of Online Victimization? American Journal of Criminal Justice, 2018. Vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 63–82. doi:10.1007/s12103-018-9447-5
  17. Schreck C.J., Wright R.A., Miller J.M. A study of individual and situational antecedents of violent victimization. Justice Quarterly, 2002. Vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 159–180. doi:10.1080/07418820200095201

Information About the Authors

Nataliya V. Vlasova, PhD in Psychology, Docent, Associate Professor, Department of Legal and Forensic Psychology, and Law, Faculty of Legal and Forensic Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3452-1133, e-mail: l1025173@yandex.ru

Elena L. Buslaeva, PhD in Psychology, Docent, Associate Professor Department of Legal and Forensic Psychology and Law, Faculty of Legal and Forensic Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1913-9198, e-mail: moselena2201@yandex.ru

Metrics

Views

Total: 1099
Previous month: 43
Current month: 3

Downloads

Total: 223
Previous month: 7
Current month: 0