Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)

TLDR: As we work with clients who demonstrate or express a disinterest in pursing an improvement in a security area, we may wish to examine if this is because they doubt the effectiveness of the organization’s ability to meet the threat (e.g., the coping appraisal is weak and thus maladaptive).

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A useful perspective is found in the contextualization of the protection motivation theory (PMT) to security behavior, Shillair, Ruth. (2020). This theory is used to understand how an appraisal of a potential threat influence response behaviors. Specific indicators of threat, and how the individual perceives them, establishes associated behaviors. It suggests that individuals evaluate potential threats using two processes of threat appraisal and coping appraisal.

• Threat appraisal is a process of assesses the likelihood and severity of a threat actualizing.
• The coping appraisal process involves considering the effectiveness of a response, the difficulty of responding, and how the individual perceives their self-efficacy of implementing the coping response.

The theory establishes a relationship between these two processes. If the initial threat appraisal is stronger than the following coping appraisal, the response is maladaptive (e.g., denial, lowering perceived threat significance, ignoring the threat). Alternatively, if the coping response is perceived as stronger that the inciting threat (e.g., response efficacy, self-efficacy) a ‘protection motivation’ is realized.

Therefore, a study of security practitioner’s behaviors should include an examination of protection motivation. This theory establishes a clear relationship between the practitioner’s perception of a threat and their perception of either their own or their organization’s response efficacy. Anecdotal experience confirms that when a security practitioner doubts the response effectiveness, possibly due to organizational capability gaps, they will ignore the threat.

References:

Shillair, Ruth. (2020). Protection Motivation Theory. 1-3. 10.1002/9781119011071.iemp0188.