APA Dictionary of Psychology

social engineer

Updated on 11/15/2023

a person engaged in planning social policy and in organizing community action programs to shape the development of cities or communities and to address problems such as crime, drug use, and urban decline.
an outdated and pejorative term for a person who attempts to enforce social change by imposing certain abstract or theoretical ideas on society.
in the field of cybersecurity and information security, an individual who uses psychological tactics and manipulation techniques to gain unauthorized access to information systems, networks, or sensitive information. Social engineers rely on various activities, including baiting, scareware, and phishing, to gain the trust of targets and then manipulate them into taking unsafe actions, such as divulging confidential information or clicking on malicious websites.

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