Factors Influencing Support for Insider Threat Behaviours: Anger Rumination & Job Satisfaction

Insider threats—harmful acts from within an organization—pose serious risks to security. This study investigates anger rumination and job satisfaction as psychological predictors of support for insider threat behaviors. Using a survey of 383 participants responding to hypothetical insider scenarios, we found that higher anger rumination was associated with greater justification of and willingness to engage in insider misconduct, while lower job satisfaction was associated with greater resentment and justification. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that anger rumination was a particularly strong predictor of insider threat proclivity, even when controlling for job satisfaction. These findings deepen our understanding of the psychological factors underlying insider threats and highlight the need for proactive organizational strategies that address employee emotion and satisfaction.