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Psychology and Law
2025. Vol. 15, no. 3, 3–23
doi:10.17759/psylaw.2025150301
ISSN: 2222-5196 (online)

Analytical model of adolescents’ dangerous behaviour formation in the internet space

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. The Internet provides children and adolescents with great information and communication opportunities, but at the same time, it becomes a significant factor in their dangerous behavior online and offline. It is necessary to conceptualize this phenomenon in order to conduct scientific and practical research and development with a wide coverage of the complex of factors, including the Internet, that determine the criminalization and victimization of children and adolescents. Objective. To develop a comprehensive model of the formation of adolescents’ dangerous behavior in the Internet space. Research method. Theoretical analysis and model construction based on literary data and materials of complex forensic psychological and psychiatric examinations (CFPE) of juvenile defendants and victims in the context of crimes committed in the Internet environment. Results. The article describes the process of formation of dangerous behavior in children and adolescents in the Internet space, dividing the factors operating in it into potential (formative) and current (situational, provoking). In the area of potential factors, based on the concept of ecological systems by W. Bronfenbrenner and the biopsychosocial approach by G. Engel, four levels of factor are distinguished. The levels are associated with the spheres, the study of which in the offline and online planes allows us to identify the prerequisites for the vulnerability of minors and their readiness for risky and dangerous behavior. The current factors, including Internet influences, transform potential readiness and vulnerability into the implementation of dangerous actions, victimization and criminalization of adolescents. Conclusions. The proposed model opens perspectives for further studies of various options for dangerous behavior of minors in the context of the influence of the Internet environment, increasing the effectiveness of forensic psychological and psychiatric examination of minors, developing criteria and tools for assessing the risk of dangerous behavior, as well as measures for its prevention.

General Information

Keywords: comprehensive model, dangerous behavior, adolescents, factors of formation, the Internet, risk, victimization, criminalization, prevention

Journal rubric: Legal Psychology of Childhood

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2025150301

Funding. The study carried out within the framework of State Assignment No. 123022000056-7 «Development of comprehensive models of clinical and psychological diagnostics, examination, prevention, interdepartmental interaction when working with children and adolescents in the context of crimes committed in the information environment and cyberspace» (2023-2025).

Acknowledgements. The author is grateful to the staff of the Department of Social and Forensic Psychiatric Problems of Minors of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Pedagogical Sciences” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for assistance in collecting data for the study and discussing its results.

Received 14.07.2025

Revised 31.07.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Dozortseva, E.G. (2025). Analytical model of adolescents’ dangerous behaviour formation in the internet space. Psychology and Law, 15(3), 3–23. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2025150301

© Dozortseva E.G., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Elena G. Dozortseva, Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Professor, Department of Legal Psychology and Law, Faculty of Legal Psychology, Moscow State University of psychology and education, Senior Researcher, Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Psychology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation,Member of the editorial board of the scientific journal “Psychology and Law” member of the editorial board of the scientific journal “Psychological Science and Education”, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1309-0485, e-mail: edozortseva@mail.ru

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Ethics statement

The article doesn’t contain any materials to be considered by an Ethical committee.

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