Effect of temporal distance and goal type on predictions of future information security: Focus on moderation of self-efficacy and social responsibility

Abstract

We investigate how predictions of future information security vary according to temporal distance, goal type, and personal characteristics. A total of 368 participants rated the likelihood of achieving the two-goal types at present, and then one and ten years later. The future information security bias was found to be greater for a distant place than shortly, and it was found to be greater for private goal types than public goal types. Personal characteristics were classified into self-efficacy and social responsibility, and their effectiveness was verified. A self-efficacy test revealed that the information security bias for the two types of goals was higher when it was higher than the low self-efficacy group. In the case of social responsibility, the bias was found in the higher group than the lower group only in the public goal type, but not the private goal type. We conclude by presenting some implications for information security policy and suggestions for further research.

Keywords

• Goal type
• Information security
• Optimistic bias
• Self-efficacy
• Social responsibility
• Temporal distance