29 January  2024

From fear to action: How we can reduce the impact of overwhelming news on privacy issues.

In the days before Privacy Day, we are startled by a report about the ‘mother of all data breaches’. 26 billion records are out in the open!! But are we actually startled? Many people won’t even be surprised anymore; “Another data leak, sure!”.

Een illustratie die laat zien dat 1 op de 3 medewerkers nooit op een phishing link klikt.

As security experts we are often too focused on the bad that can happen, and we think that telling horrific stories prevents people from engaging in risky behavior. Psychologists refer to this method as using ‘Fear Appeal’. And even though fear appeal can lead to attention and awareness, it can also backfire and people can become numb or desensitized to the news. How can we explain this from a psychological perspective? And more importantly, how can we prevent this?

One explanation for this phenomenon is that people feel it is unavoidable and have no control over it. The constant exposure to distressing or overwhelming news leads to what social psychologists call lower ‘self-efficacy’, which is a person’s belief in their own ability to make a difference or take effective action in a given situation. 

A follow-up consequence of this low self-efficacy could be that when individuals are repeatedly exposed to negative news, and feel that there is little they can do to change or influence the situations presented in the news, they may eventually develop a sense of ‘learned helplessness’. Learned helplessness is a psychological concept where people come to believe that their actions are pointless and that they have no control over their circumstances. This belief can further wear down their sense of self-efficacy and motivation to take positive actions.

Moreover, constant exposure to fear-based messages in the news can lead to emotional overwhelm and desensitization. When people are bombarded with frightening information, they may become numb to the fear, leading to inaction or avoidance of the news altogether. So how can we mitigate this potential negative impact caused by too much exposure to distressing news? To begin with, it is important to focus on what people can do to prevent it. Highlight solutions, positive developments, and stories of resilience. This can help restore a sense of self-efficacy, control and hope. When people feel like recommended actions are doable and effective in reducing the threat, they may be more likely to approach the situation and engage in the recommended behaviors. Effective communication should therefore provide not only information about threats, but also about actionable steps, hope, and solutions. 

Important tips for an effective approach

“Important Tips for an Effective Approach Start by acknowledging the negative or confusing feelings people may have about security. Build common ground; use clear (recognizable) language and try to avoid technical jargon.

To move forward…

  • Emphasize what it yields rather than what it costs, and highlight what you can do instead of what you shouldn’t do.
  • Share relatable stories with positive outcomes.
  • Provide ‘direct’ feedback on positive behavior.
  • Share positive results; ‘We’ve received more reports, so we can prevent more breaches.’
  • Break down desired behavior into small, manageable steps. Emphasize that these ‘small’ steps can have a significant impact.

This sets the stage for an organization’s development toward a secure work environment.

Good luck!”

 

AWAREWAYS

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