Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences · Psychology · Undergraduate
Course Objective
The aim of this course is to comprehensively teach students the psychological effects of digitalization on individuals' behaviors, thoughts, and emotional processes, to equip them with the competence to understand and analyze the new phenomena of the digital age, and to prepare them for future professional fields of practice.
Course Content
The course covers current topics such as the psychological effects of the internet and social media, cyberbullying, digital addiction, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), the effects of screen time, the dopamine cycle, online identity and self-presentation, digital literacy, and ethical behavior in the digital environment.
Required Resources
Günüç, S. (Ed.). (2021). Siber psikoloji. Anı Yayıncılık.
Recommended Resources
Balhara, Y. P. S., & Singh, S. (2019). Internet and psychopathology: A complex paradigm. Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour, 24(2), 66-72.
Wallace, P. M. (2016). The psychology of the Internet. Cambridge University Press.
Pergantis, P., Bamicha, V., Skianis, C. and Drigas, A. (2025). AI Chatbots and Cognitive Control: Enhancing Executive Functions Through Chatbot Interactions: A Systematic Review. Brain Science, 15(47), 1-22.
Deckker, D., & Sumanasekara, S. (2025). A systematic review of the impact of artificial intelligence, digital technology, and social media on cognitive functions. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 9 (3), 134–154. https://doi. org/10.47772/IJRISS.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Defines new psychological phenomena and concepts of the digital age.
- Analyzes the effects of digitalization on individuals' behavioral, cognitive, and affective processes.
- Develops the ability to critically evaluate digital content and digital literacy skills.
- Gains knowledge about the risks posed by the digital world, such as cyberbullying and digital addiction, and ways to cope with them.
- Understands the principles and importance of ethical behavior in the digital environment.
- Evaluates current research topics and potential application areas in the field of digital behaviors and internet psychology.
- Gain knowledge about psychological disorders and psychopathologies that may arise as a result of chronic and excessive digital media exposure.
Core Area Distribution
Teaching Methods
Assessment & Evaluation
ECTS / Workload
| Activity | Quantity | Duration (h) | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Duration (Including Exam Week) | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Out of Class Study Period | 16 | 5 | 80 |
| Midterm | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assignment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Practice | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Course Schedule
| Week | Subject | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome to the Internet Age! What is the Internet? History of Media, the Central Internet, and Its Alternatives. | Günuç (2021) Chapter 1 |
| 2 | Media Literacy and Cognitive Biases in the Internet Age | Günüç (2021) Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Social Media, Self, and Identity | Günüç (2021) Chapter 2 |
| 4 | The Internet, Development, and the Perception of Reality | Günüç (2021) Chapter 6 |
| 5 | Neurobiology of the Internet: The Dopamine Cycle and Addiction | Günüç (2021) Chapter 5 |
| 6 | Digital Consumer Behavior and Neuromarketing | Günüç (2021) Chapter 14 |
| 7 | Online Privacy, Security, and Ethics | Wallace (20016) Chapter 10 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam Week | Course Slides |
| 9 | Digital Psychopathologies I: Diagnoses Included in Diagnostic Manuals | Günüç (2021) Chapter 4 and Balhara, Y. P. S., & Singh, S. (2019) |
| 10 | Digital Psychopathologies II: The Internet Specific Psychopathologies | Günüç (2021) Chapter 4 and Balhara, Y. P. S., & Singh, S. (2019) |
| 11 | Digital Psychopathologies III: Psychopathologies Affected and Changed by the Internet | Günüç (2021) Chapter 4 and Balhara, Y. P. S., & Singh, S. (2019) |
| 12 | The Internet and Crime | Günüç (2021) Chapter 15 |
| 13 | Digital Well-Being, Digital Detox, and Digital Psychotherapies | Günüç (2021) Chapter 7 |
| 14 | Artificial Intelligence and Psychology | Pergantis et al. (2025) and Deckker et al. (2025) |
| 15 | Emotional Processes and Group Dynamics in the Digital Environment | Günüç (2021) Chapter 3 |
| 16 | Final Exam Week | Course Slides |