Director of Research to speak at Cognitive Security Institute

The phrase “human factors” has gained significant traction in cybersecurity discussions across academia and industry. However, meaningful dialogue between these sectors remains limited. What insights might emerge if social science and industry professionals communicated more effectively?

The Presentation

At the Cognitive Security Institute meeting, Dr. Thea Mannix presented on Bridging the gap: How behavioral science professionals can communicate the true potential of social sciences in cybersecurity.

Dr. Mannix highlighted a critical challenge: “The way that we translate the science of what we do to those currently working in the industry often falls flat” due to substantial gaps between implemented practices and evidence-based approaches to reducing human error.

Key Topics Covered

The presentation addressed several interconnected areas:

• Security Awareness Training: Development of more effective programs grounded in behavioral science
• Program Improvement: Better security frameworks and software usability
• Resilience Building: Strengthening organizational defenses through psychological insights
• Mental Well-being: How employee health indirectly enhances cybersecurity vigilance and reduces manipulation susceptibility

Dr. Mannix explored how cognitive biases — particularly optimism bias — lead people to underestimate personal digital risks. She demonstrated how psychological assessments can identify organizational biases, enabling evidence-based recalibration of risk perception.

About Dr. Mannix

As a behavioral neuroscientist, Dr. Mannix brings expertise in experimental design, scientific testing, data visualization, and interpretation. At Praxis Security Labs, she applies neuroscience and psychology knowledge to advance human factors assessment in cybersecurity.