Cyberpsychology and adversarial thinking for enhanced cybersecurity defenses

Purpose This study aims to bridge the gap between user-centered psychological insights and attacker-oriented strategic modeling in cybersecurity. It proposes an integrated framework combining cyberpsychology, adversarial thinking and cultural analysis to inform a more holistic, proactive and human-centered cybersecurity strategy. Design/methodology/approach This paper follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) procedure to conduct a systematic literature review on the intersection of cyberpsychology and adversarial thinking, with particular emphasis on cultural influences to inform cybersecurity strategies. A thematic synthesis of 47 peer-reviewed studies was undertaken to identify trends, research gaps and interdisciplinary challenges. Findings The review identifies four central themes: (1) psychological models are frequently used to understand user behavior but are rarely applied to adversarial modeling; (2) profiling methods remain largely technical and reactive, lacking integration with behavioral science; (3) cultural factors, while occasionally considered in victim studies, are underexplored in relation to attacker behavior; and (4) cybersecurity strategies remain predominantly reactive, with limited development of proactive models. Together, these findings underscore a fragmented literature landscape and the need for integrative, forward-looking cybersecurity approaches. Originality/value This paper contributes a novel interdisciplinary framework that reconceptualizes adversarial thinking by embedding psychological and cultural aspects. It extends the theoretical scope of cybersecurity beyond technical defenses and highlights the value of behaviorally informed, proactive strategies to anticipate and mitigate threats.