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Adopting Protective Behaviours against Hypernudging: The Role of Awareness and Protection Motivation Theory
Elfrink, L.L.T. (2025) Adopting Protective Behaviours against Hypernudging: The Role of Awareness and Protection Motivation Theory.
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| Abstract: | There is an increasing prevalence of hypernudging, which refers to algorithms that create highly personalised and dynamic choice architectures that subtly and continuously influence individual decision-making in digital environments. This cross-sectional study investigated to what extent awareness and Protection Motivation Theory factors predicted adopting protective behaviours against hypernudging. A sample of 108 participants completed a survey measuring protective behaviour and its predictors: awareness, perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, perceived benefits, response efficacy, self-efficacy, and perceived costs. Then, multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. A significant positive relationship was found between perceived severity and protective behaviour, response efficacy and protective behaviour, and a significant negative relationship between perceived costs and protective behaviour. No significant relationships were found between other predictors and protective behaviour. Limitations consisted of a predominantly Dutch sample with potential language comprehension issues, the use of self-report data, a reverse-worded benefits construct, and the relatively low reliability of the protective behaviour measure. Despite these limitations, the study found that perceived severity, response efficacy, and perceived costs predicted protective behaviour against hypernudging, while awareness and other PMT factors did not. The results stress the importance of focusing on perceived severity, response efficacy, and perceived costs, rather than awareness to increase protective behaviour. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107144 |
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