Personal Values and Cyber Risk-Taking

Abstract

This research explores the relationship between personal values and the tendency to take cyber-risks. We first develop and add six cyber-risk items to the well-known Domain-Specific Risk-Taking (DOSPERT) scale. Importantly, we show that like the other five domains examined by the scale (Health, Ethical, Financial, Recreational, and Social), these cyber items form a separate cluster.

We then examine the association between values and cyber risk-taking behavior. We find that “conservation (conservatism)” values are negatively correlated with the tendency to take cyber risks. Thus, individuals prioritize conservation are less likely to take cyber risks. We also find that “openness to change” values are positively associated with the tendency to take cyber-risks. Individuals who value openness to changes are prone to take cyber risk. The findings suggest possible “values based” interventions in order to increase cyber-security.