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Wishful Thinking and IT Threat Avoidance: An Extension to the Technology Threat Avoidance Theory
- Source :
- IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. 66:552-567
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2019.
-
Abstract
- In this research, we report the empirical findings of a vignette study designed to examine how volitional computer users cope with information technology (IT) threats based on the technology threat avoidance theory (TTAT). We incorporate the construct of wishful thinking, an important form of emotion-focused coping behavior that is rarely studied, along with problem-focused coping into a research model to examine the interaction between the two coping approaches. The results reveal that wishful thinking weakens the effect of perceived avoidability on avoidance motivation. In turn, wishful thinking is positively affected by perceived threat and this effect is stronger when a user has low risk tolerance. Although perceived avoidability can reduce wishful thinking, its effect is fully mediated by perceived threat. This study highlights the important role of wishful thinking in affecting users’ security behavior. It not only corroborates, but also extends the extant propositions of TTAT, thus making a significant contribution to IT security research and practice.
- Subjects :
- Coping (psychology)
business.industry
Strategy and Management
Wishful thinking
05 social sciences
Information technology
Coping behavior
Computer users
Research model
Extant taxon
Vignette
0502 economics and business
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
business
Psychology
Social psychology
050203 business & management
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15580040 and 00189391
- Volume :
- 66
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........38a48d39948bbea982f857bccffe3c2f