Reconceptualizing the Human in the Loop : A Problematization of Taken-for-Granted Metaphors in Cybersecurity Research

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Reconceptualizing the Human in the Loop : A Problematization of Taken-for-Granted Metaphors in Cybersecurity Research
Authors: Soliman, Wael, Järveläinen, Jonna
Publisher Information: Association for Information Systems, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Subject Terms: cybersecurity, information security, frightened animal, information systems security, kehittäminen, metaphor, weakest link, käsitteet, metaforat, pelko, kielikuvat, tietoturva, kyberturvallisuus, tietojärjestelmät
Description: The use of metaphors is crucial to advancing not only scientific fields but also in facilitating the development of knowledge and understanding in general. While metaphors facilitate the exchange of novel concepts and ideas, they can also be a hindrance if we do not critically question the root metaphors and the extent to which they apply and do not apply to the subjects we study in cybersecurity research. We find two metaphors to be seemingly popular in characterizing the human actor: (1) the “frightened animal” metaphor with traceable roots to fear-inducing theories, such as Deterrence Theory, and (2) the “weakest link” metaphor with traceable roots to Taylorism and scientific management. We revisit the roots of these two metaphors, critically examine their applicability to the subject matter in cybersecurity, and provide suggestions for improving the status quo.
peerReviewed
Document Type: Conference object
File Description: application/pdf; fulltext
Language: English
Access URL: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202405243951
Rights: URL: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
Accession Number: edsair.od......1222..df5fb06ad6b416556e9710e5c18f6dcc
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:The use of metaphors is crucial to advancing not only scientific fields but also in facilitating the development of knowledge and understanding in general. While metaphors facilitate the exchange of novel concepts and ideas, they can also be a hindrance if we do not critically question the root metaphors and the extent to which they apply and do not apply to the subjects we study in cybersecurity research. We find two metaphors to be seemingly popular in characterizing the human actor: (1) the “frightened animal” metaphor with traceable roots to fear-inducing theories, such as Deterrence Theory, and (2) the “weakest link” metaphor with traceable roots to Taylorism and scientific management. We revisit the roots of these two metaphors, critically examine their applicability to the subject matter in cybersecurity, and provide suggestions for improving the status quo.<br />peerReviewed