Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D. Thanks CU Boulder

This writer, Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D., would like to take this opportunity to thank the University of Colorado Boulder for allowing him to present his iPredator construct to their psychology pre-doctoral interns. Since authoring iPredator in 2010, this is the first time a university, CU Boulder, has requested this writer to educate their graduate students about his Information Age dark side of human consciousness concept. Thank you, CU Boulder and Dr., Vera. This writer is honored by this event and views it as the first step to encouraging all academic institutions to address the dark side of cyberspace and the importance for all online users to practice internet safety.

Prior to his telephonic presentation, the pre-doctoral interns watched the award-winning documentary called “Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop”. “Thought Crimes” is an excellent documentary for those wanting to learn about the dark psychology involved when using Information and Communications Technology (ICT). After watching the documentary, this writer introduced his construct and it’s sub-tenets. ODDOR, Dark Psychology and the role of fantasy, anonymity and the Reality Virtuality Continuum were discussed.

In addition to thanking CU Boulder, this writer would like to thank Olga Vera, Ph.D. for scheduling this training. Dr. Vera and this writer have also joined forces to encourage other academic institutions and professional organizations to educate their constituents about staying safe online. Furthermore, Dr. Vera has given this writer permission to post her letter of thanks so that our internet safety volunteers know they also have been recognized for their challenging work. Provided below are the definitions of iPredator, Information Age Wellness and Information Age Education.

“iPredators revel in targeting the LGBT community, discouraged children, the internet safety ignorant, racial minorities, the physically/mentally disabled and anyone else they deem vulnerable. Once an iPredator assesses an individual or group as an easy target, cyber-attacks soon follow”. Olga Vera, Ph.D. (2015)

Information Age Education (IAE)

Information Age Education (IAE) is a cyber-attack prevention paradigm offering a solution to reducing the negative consequences of living in the Information Age. The Information Age and information technology present positive and negative influences upon humanity in which the negative aspects seem to be growing at a feverish pace. IAE prioritizes prevention education, non-denominational family values and humility as solutions to connecting the disconnected, educating the ignorant and conquering the corrupt (iPredator).

An integral component in the goal of slowing the trajectory of the societal disconnection process is the active participation of educational systems, religious organizations, service organizations and positive pro-social public figures. Although it is impossible for any person, group or nation to be absolutely insulated from being cyber attacked or targeted for nefarious and malevolent reasons, the odds and probability thereof can certainly be reduced by Information Age Education (IAE).

“Malevolent in intent, iPredators rely on their capacity to deceive others using information technology in the abstract and artificial electronic universe known as cyberspace. Therefore, as the internet naturally offers all ICT users anonymity, if they decide, iPredators actively design online profiles and diversionary tactics to remain undetected and untraceable.” Michael Nuccitelli Psy.D. (2013)

Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D.

Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D. is a NYS licensed psychologist, cyberpsychology researcher and online safety educator. In 2009, Dr. Nuccitelli finalized his dark side of cyberspace concept called iPredator. Since 2010, he has advised those seeking information about cyberbullying, cyberstalking, cybercriminal minds, internet addiction and his Dark Psychology concept. By day Dr. Nuccitelli is a practicing psychologist, clinical supervisor and owner of MN Psychological Services, PLLC. After work and on the weekends, he volunteers helping online users who have been cyber-attacked. Dr. Nuccitelli’s is always available to interested parties and the media at no cost. This website and everything created by Dr. Nuccitelli is educational, free and public domain.

“In nature, wild animals stalk and measure their prey using stealth and tactical strategies increasing their probability of success while decreasing potential for injury. iPredators also use stealth, Cyberstealth, to stalk online users increasing the probability of achieving their aims, while decreasing their potential of identification and punishment.” Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D. (2012)

iPredator Prevention Tips and Online Presence

Provided for the reader below is a brief blog post introducing twelve iPredator prevention and internet safety tips involving online presence. For those not familiar with the iPredator construct and ODDOR sub-construct, a brief definition for each are provided with links to their full pages. This writer’s prevention education tips are as follows:

iPredator Prevention Tips

• Dissemination & exchange of irrelevant personal information is an iPredator’s aphrodisiac.
• Past offline success never translates into future success without a positive and genuine online presence.
• Exceptional online presence & digital reputation are essential conditions for both success, economic survival and insulation from disinformation attacks.
• Exceptional online presence & digital reputation cannot be bought and reliance upon past offline accomplishments as protection is exactly what iPredators
• Avoidance of disinformation attacks is worse than ignorance of disinformation attacks.
• Always be skeptical about information in cyberspace without support from reputable sources.
• Negative information in cyberspace is infinite. It cannot be deleted, but it can be buried or nullified.
• A general understanding and awareness of the Dark Psychology of human behavior is an InfoAge requirement.
• InfoAge social cause support, participation and contributions have enormous disinformation insulation benefits to all aspects of life.
• Carl Jung’s concepts of mythology & fantasy drive all cognitive, perceptual, behavioral and affective processes in the criminal and cybercriminal mind.
• Psychological Isolation, Disconnectedness & Anger are hallmarks of both the iPredator & target.
• Trust, respect & reliability are invaluable human InfoAge traits, which should always be honored and never questioned.

Offline Distress Dictates Online Response (ODDOR)

ODDOR is a sub-tenet of iPredator, which posits that offline psychological functioning directly influences one’s online interactions. Whether someone is an online assailant, cyber-attack target or both, ODDOR does not discriminate. ODDOR postulates that temporary and long-standing psychological states can significantly taint an online user’s behaviors and interpretations. Perceptually isolated, ignorance of the existence of ODDOR and experiencing atypical affective and cognitive states increases the probability of being targeted by an online assailant. In addition to being at a greater risk of being cyber attacked, ODDOR influences an online user to partake in destructive and self-destructive online activities.

If a person is self-aware and healthy, their levels of ODDOR are less likely to become problematic. Just as self-awareness acts as a buffer between mental health and dysfunction, the same holds true for ODDOR. An online user’s risks of engaging in destructive and self-destructive behaviors are diminished by monitoring one’s attitude before and during ICT usage.

iPredator

iPredator: A person, group or nation who, directly or indirectly, engages in exploitation, victimization, coercion, stalking, theft or disparagement of others using Information and Communications Technology [ICT]. iPredators are driven by deviant fantasies, desires for power and control, retribution, religious fanaticism, political reprisal, psychiatric illness, perceptual distortions, peer acceptance or personal and financial gain. iPredators can be any age or gender and are not bound by economic status, race, religion or national heritage.

iPredator is a global term used to distinguish anyone who engages in criminal, coercive, deviant or abusive behaviors using ICT. Central to the construct is the premise that Information Age criminals, deviants and the violently disturbed are psychopathological classifications new to humanity.

Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D.

Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D. is a NYS licensed psychologist, cyberpsychology researcher and online safety educator. In 2009, Dr. Nuccitelli finalized his dark side of cyberspace concept called iPredator. Since 2010, he has advised those seeking information about cyberbullying, cyberstalking, cybercriminal minds, internet addiction and his Dark Psychology concept. By day Dr. Nuccitelli is a practicing psychologist, clinical supervisor and owner of MN Psychological Services, PLLC. After work and on the weekends, he volunteers helping online users who have been cyber-attacked. Dr. Nuccitelli’s is always available to interested parties and the media at no cost. This website and everything created by Dr. Nuccitelli is educational, free and public domain.