

Atte Oksanen
About me
Atte Oksanen is Professor of Social Psychology and Vice Dean for Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Tampere University, Finland. Oksanen's research focuses on digital technologies, social interaction, crime and addiction. He is the director of Emerging Technologies Lab which conducts social scientific and social psychological research on human behavior in technological environments. Oksanen has successfully led several major research projects funded by the Academy of Finland, Kone Foundation, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Aaltonen Foundation, Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies, Finnish Work Environment Fund, Wihuri Foundation, and Helsingin Sanomat Foundation. His international research projects have been funded by the Scandinavian Research Council for Criminology, the Research council of Norway and the National Science Foundation (U.S.). He has published extensively on social media, online communities and cyberhate during the last years and has over 350 publications to his name, with over 200 peer-reviewed international journal articles, including flagship journals (e.g. Criminology, Addiction, Pediatrics, International Journal of Information Management, Social Science & Medicine, Computers in Human Behavior, New Media & Society, and Higher Education). Publications include a seminal monograph on cyberhate and cybervictimization (Online Hate and Harmful Content: Cross-National Perspectives, Routledge, 2017).
Responsibilities
Vice Dean for Research (>400 people at the faculty of social sciences; responsibilities at the university administration)
Director of Emerging Technologies Lab (>30 people at the lab; leadership and supervision in research)
Full professor (research and research management, MA and PhD level teaching in social psychology at the degree program for social sciences)
Board member of Research Council for Culture and Society, Academy of Finland (2022–2024, annual budget ca. 60M€)
Board member of Finnish Research Infrastructures Committee, Academy of Finland (2022–2025, annual budget ca. 30M€)
Project links
Main positions of trust
2022–2025 Board member, Finnish Research Infrastructures Committee, Academy of Finland
2022–2024 Board member, Research Council for Culture and Society, Academy of Finland
2021–2022 Member assessment group for gambling harms and risks, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
2020– A-Clinic Foundation, member of board
2019–2020 Member assessment group for gambling harms and risks, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Currently editorial board member of Scientific Reports (Nature) and Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies.
Research topics
Teknologiat
Tekoäly
Internet
Sosiaalinen media
Addiktiot
Rikollisuus
Viha ja häirintä
Työelämä
Research unit
Research fields
Social psychology, psychology, criminology, sociology, social sciences, health sciences, cultural studies
Funding
Research career
Current position
2024– Vice Dean for Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Finland
2018– Professor of Social Psychology (full), Tampere University, Finland
2014–2018 Professor of Social Psychology (tenure-track), University of Tampere Finland
2013–2016 PI, Hate Communities: A Cross-National Comparison Project (Kone Foundation), University of Turku, Finland
2013–2014 Senior researcher, National Research Institute of Legal Policy, Ministry of Justice, Finland
2012–2013 Senior researcher, Finnish Youth Research Network, Helsinki
2009–2012 PI, Everyday Life and Insecurity (Aaltonen Foundation), University of Turku, Finland
2009–2011 PI, post-doctoral researcher’s project Images of Addiction in Rock Culture, University of Tampere, Finland
2007–2008 Post-doctoral research fellow, University of Tampere, Finland
2002–2006 Research fellow, University of Tampere, Finland
Education and degrees awarded
2011 Title of docent, sociology, University of Helsinki, Finland
2011 Title of docent, sociology, University of Turku, Finland
2008 Title of docent, social psychology, University of Tampere, Finland
2006 Doctor of Social Sciences, social psychology, University of Tampere, Finland
2004 Licentiate of Social Sciences, social psychology, University of Tampere, Finland
2004 Master of Arts, Finnish literature, University of Tampere, Finland
2001 Master of Social Sciences, social psychology, University of Tampere, Finland
Selected publications
1. Oksanen, A., Celuch, M., Latikka, R., Oksa, R., & Savela, N. (2022). Hate and harassment in academia: The rising concern of the online environment. Higher Education, 84, 541–567.
2. Oksanen, A., Oksa, R., Savela, N. Mantere, E., Savolainen, I., & Kaakinen, M. (2021). COVID-19 Crisis and Digital Stressors at Work: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study. Computers in Human Behavior https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106853.
3. Savela, N., Oksanen, A., Pellert, M, & Garcia, D. (2021). Emotional reactions to robot colleagues in a role-playing experiment. International Journal of Information Management, 60, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102361.
4. Oksanen, A., Kaakinen, M., Minkkinen, J., Räsänen, P., Enjolras, B., & Steen-Johnsen, K. (2020). Perceived societal fear and cyberhate after the November 2015 Paris Terrorist Attacks. Terrorism & Political Violence, 32(5), 1047–1066. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2018.1442329.
5. Keipi, T., Näsi, M., Oksanen, A., & Räsänen, P. (2017). Online Hate and Harmful Content: Cross-National Perspectives. Abingdon & New York: Routledge.
6. Aaltonen, M., Oksanen, A., & Kivivuori, J. (2016). Debt Problems and Crime. Criminology, 54(2), 307–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9125.12103.
7. Oksanen, A., Aaltonen, M., & Kivivuori, J. (2015). Driving under the Influence as a Turning Point? A Register-based Study on Financial and Social Consequences among First-time Male Offenders. Addiction, 110(3), 471–478. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.12777.
8. Oksanen, A., Garcia, D., Sirola, A., Näsi, M., Kaakinen, M., Keipi, T., & Räsänen, P. (2015). Pro-Anorexia and anti-pro-anorexia videos on YouTube: Sentiment analysis of user responses. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(11):e256. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.5007.
9. Oksanen, A. Hawdon, J., & Räsänen, P. (2014). Glamorizing Rampage Online: School Shooting Fan Communities on YouTube. Technology in Society, 39, 55–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2014.08.001.
10. Oksanen, A. (2013). Deleuze and the Theory of Addiction. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 45(1), 57–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2013.763563.
Latest publications
Affective, cognitive, and contextual cues in Reddit posts on artificial intelligence
Savela, N., Pellert, M., Latikka, R., Bergdahl, J., Garcia, D. & Oksanen, A., Feb 2025, In: Journal of Computational Social Science. 8, 6, 27 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
A four-wave longitudinal study on attitudes toward the use of AI in different domains—The self-determination theory and locus of control perspective
Cvetkovic, A., Savolainen, I., Koike, M. & Oksanen, A., Jun 2025, In: Telematics and Informatics Reports. 18, 100220.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
A longitudinal study on the effects of materialism and mental health on gambling problems in Finland
Vuorinen, I., Hagfors, H., Savolainen, I. & Oksanen, A., 2025, In: INTERNATIONAL GAMBLING STUDIES. 25, 2, p. 257-268Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Does being close to someone with gambling problems predict harm? An eight-wave longitudinal study
Hautamäki, S., Savolainen, I., Kauppila, E., Vuorinen, I., Hagfors, H. & Oksanen, A., Nov 2025, In: ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS. 170, 108416.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Does cybercrime indicate serious offending behavior? A cross-national comparative analysis of cybercrime severity
Vepsäläinen, J., Kaakinen, M., Oksanen, A., Savolainen, I., Markina, A., Langeland, C. L., Meško, G., Kokoravec Povh, I. & Valdimarsdóttir, M., 29 May 2025, AMCIS 2025 Proceedings. Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), 1717. (AMCIS 2025 Proceedings; vol. 37).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review
Individual and well-being factors associated with social chatbot usage: A six-country study
Latikka, R., Bergdahl, J., Savolainen, I., Celuch, M. & Oksanen, A., 29 Oct 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. 02654075251392956.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Just a few more minutes: Longitudinal and cross-national perspectives on the role of online identity bubbles in addictive internet use
Savolainen, I., Brailovskaia, J., Sirola, A., Celuch, M. & Oksanen, A., Apr 2025, In: Computers in Human Behavior. 165, 108555.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Lonely gamble: A longitudinal study of loneliness, gambling to escape and problem gambling
Hagfors, H., Kaakinen, M., Savolainen, I., Vepsäläinen, J. & Oksanen, A., 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Behavioral Addictions.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Older adults and information and communication technologies: a qualitative interview study on basic psychological needs
Latikka, R., Valkama, O., Rantala, A., Jolanki, O. & Oksanen, A., 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: International Journal of Ageing And Later Life. 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Opiskelun yhteisöllisyys, vaatimukset ja voimavarat korkeakouluopiskelijoiden kokemina
Toivonen, T., Mäkiniemi, J.-P., Oksanen, A. & Mäkikangas, A., 2025, In: Psykologia. 60, 3, p. 179-204Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review