Proceedings of the First International Conference on Advances in Forensics and Cyber Technologies (ICFACT 2025)

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Space Transition Theory 2.0: Mapping Identity Drift in AI-Mediated Social Spaces

Authors
Madona Mathew1, *, Vinod Kaaparthi2
1Assistant Professor, Dept.ofForensicScience, Usha Martin University, Jharkhand, India
2Assistant Professor, Dept.ofForensicScience, Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, India
*Corresponding author. Email: madona.mathew@umu.ac.in
Corresponding Author
Madona Mathew
Available Online 5 May 2026.
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6239-610-4_18How to use a DOI?
Keywords
AI interaction; Identity Drift; Cyberpsychology; Space Transition Theory; Online disinhibition; Digital forensics
Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) now mediates digital communication in ways that reshape human behavior. Classical cyberpsychology theories—including Space Transition Theory (STT), Online Disinhibition Effect (ODE), the Proteus Effect, and the SIDE model—were conceptualized primarily for human–human interactions. They do not fully explain the emerging dynamics in AI-mediated environments, where users interact with emotionally responsive, non-judgmental, personalized artificial agents. This paper proposes Space Transition Theory 2.0 (STT 2.0), introducing Identity Drift as the central psychological mechanism shaping behavior in AI-mediated contexts. STT 2.0 identifies three operational zones—Adaptive Identity Drift, Moral Offloading, and Synthetic Empathy Illusion—to explain how AI modifies identity expression, reduces felt accountability, and stimulates perceived emotional reciprocity. The model synthesizes cyberpsychology, criminology, and emotional AI research, presenting a revised framework with implications for digital forensics, cybercrime interpretation, emotional vulnerability, and online safety. The findings highlight a need for expanded theoretical approaches as AI becomes an active participant in digital communication.

Copyright
© 2026 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the First International Conference on Advances in Forensics and Cyber Technologies (ICFACT 2025)
Series
Advances in Computer Science Research
Publication Date
5 May 2026
ISBN
978-94-6239-610-4
ISSN
2352-538X
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6239-610-4_18How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2026 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Madona Mathew
AU  - Vinod Kaaparthi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/05
TI  - Space Transition Theory 2.0: Mapping Identity Drift in AI-Mediated Social Spaces
BT  - Proceedings of the First International Conference on Advances in Forensics and Cyber Technologies (ICFACT 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 164
EP  - 181
SN  - 2352-538X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-610-4_18
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-610-4_18
ID  - Mathew2026
ER  -