Cyberpsychology is a scientific interdisciplinary domain that studies the interaction between people and technology, and the influence technology has on human behavior, society, and national security. As technology becomes more pervasive in our daily lives, understanding this dynamic interaction is increasingly important.
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This course offers a groundbreaking exploration of the rapidly evolving digital landscape, blending psychology, sociology, media, technology, and national security to examine how humans interact with the digital world and its effects. Topics include the effects of social media and the metaverse, to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and digital identity. This course also uniquely bridges theory and real-world application by integrating real-world case studies and scenarios to help students better understand the profound effects of technology on individual behavior, societal norms, and global security. This course ultimately prepares students for careers in media, government, and technology.
Graduates gain a strategic understanding of the human–technology relationship—equipping them to lead, influence, and innovate in a world where perception and information are the new battlegrounds.
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1. The Human Drive to Communicate
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Why people seek, share, and control information.
From smoke signals and pigeons to the printing press, students explore the earliest communication revolutions and how they transformed power, connection, and knowledge flow. -
Applications: Understanding the roots of information behavior for leadership, strategic communication, and intelligence analysis.
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2. Media Evolution & Behavioral Influence
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How each major medium — telegraph, radio, television, and early mass media — reshaped human perception and collective behavior.
Through theories such as framing, agenda-setting, spiral of silence, and social learning, participants analyze how technology mediates trust, influence, and social control. -
Applications: Designing and countering influence operations, improving messaging strategy, and understanding audience psychology.
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3. The Digital Mind & Emerging Technology
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How the Internet, social media, AI, and immersive environments (VR/AR) affect individuals, society and national security.
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Case studies in state and non-state influence campaigns, propaganda, and narrative control. Key for military, intel, and political leaders navigating gray-zone conflicts and elections.​
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Applications: Anticipating the psychological and ethical implications of emerging technologies for governance, policy, and national security.
Intelligence, National Security & Defense
Government & Policy
Corporate Strategy & Technology
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Media & Communications
Dr. Elena Taube Bailey
Dr. Bailey brings a wealth of expertise spanning intelligence, policy, defense, and academia, as well as the nonprofit and private sectors. In academia, Dr. Bailey serves as the President and Program Director of Cyberpsychology at The Academy. Additionally, Dr. Bailey is a professor at the National Defense University’s College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC), where she teaches courses on influence warfare, cyberspace, national security, and strategic communication. She also holds the position of Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, within the Master of Professional Studies in Applied Intelligence program. Dr. Bailey is the co-founder and CEO of Glocal, the world’s pioneering News Superintelligence platform, combining human collective intelligence and AI to elevate the information environment. Fluent in English, Russian, Ukrainian, and conversational Hebrew, Dr. Bailey resides in the Washington Metropolitan Area with her husband. Counterintelligence & Intelligence​: Dr. Bailey served as a senior counterintelligence (CI) specialist at the Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), where she focused on CI and worldwide cyber threat analysis. DTRA enables the DoD and the U.S. Government to prepare for and combat WMDs and improvised threats and to ensure nuclear deterrence. The agency’s legacy extends back to the Manhattan Engineering Project that was created to develop the world’s first atomic bomb during World War II. Prior to DTRA, Dr. Bailey served as a senior CI analyst at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), where she supported joint CI operations and led a program that drove intelligence integration and collaboration across the intelligence community (IC). During this time, Dr. Bailey also served as a Regional Subject Matter Expert (SME) to the DoD, Department of the Army, focusing on geographic, economic, industry, political, security, and geopolitical issues in Ukraine.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Before her tenure at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Dr. Bailey served as an Intelligence Analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she collaborated closely with operations on counterterrorism initiatives. Additionally, Dr. Bailey successfully completed a rotation with the U.S. Department of State’s Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications where she specialized in developing and executing overt counterterrorism messaging operations.​ Foreign Governments​: Between 2006 and 2007, Dr. Bailey provided political and media analysis, as well as, conducted public relations and strategic communication at the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, and the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Local Government & Politics: ​​In 2009, Dr. Bailey served as a Legislative Deputy Assistant to Councilman Greig Smith, who was succeeded by Councilman Mitchell Englander, at the Los Angeles City Hall, Council District 12, representing the San Fernando Valley. More specifically, Dr. Bailey developed and maintained relationships between the district office and the diverse constituents in District 12. She also managed public relations with local, state and federal bodies, organizations, and the LA Joint Terrorism Taskforce (JTTF)—a partnership between the FBI and other law enforcement agencies charged with countering terrorism. Between 2004 and 2005, Dr. Bailey worked as a Presidential Campaign Coordinator in Fremont, CA. Then in 2007, she went on to serve as the Field Manager of California Region 3, for a presidential candidate. Education​: Dr. Bailey completed a Ph.D. in Strategic Communication from George Mason University. She received a Masters Degree in Psychology from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business with a focus in marketing, strategy and management. She had also received a Masters Degree in Politics with a focus in International Relations and American Government from New York University (NYU). Additionally, Dr. Bailey holds a Certificate in Intelligence Analysis from the Sherman Kent school for Intelligence Analysis, which is a training school for CIA intelligence analysts, a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Marketing Management from Georgetown University, and a Graduate Certificate in Messianic Jewish Studies from the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute. Dr. Bailey had pursued her undergraduate studies at Harvard University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and UCLA where she graduated with honors and earned a B.A. in Political Science with a focus in International Relations and a minor in Middle Eastern Studies.
