# Experiential Transformation in Privacy Behavior: A New Framework for Privacy Behavior Enhancement
###### Abstract  
Multiple studies have demonstrated that the conventional method of learning is suboptimal when our goal is to enhance individuals' genuine privacy behavior. This study introduces a framework for transforming privacy behavior, with the objective of enhancing individuals' privacy practices to a higher level of confidentiality. We performed an experiment on a limited number of people to validate the efficacy of our suggested transformation framework. This framework combined determining aspects of privacy behavior with experiential behavior modification methodologies such as neutral stimuli (e.g., cognitive behavioral transformation--CBTx), practical assessments and motivational interviews from other disciplines. While these methods have proven effective in fields like psychology and sociology, they have not yet been applied to the realm of Information Computer and Technology (ICT). In this study, we have effectively demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed framework through a five-phase experiment. The suggested framework has the potential to be advantageous for educational institutions, including both public and private schools as well as universities, to construct new frameworks or develop new methodologies regarding individuals' privacy behavior transformation to a more protective one. Furthermore, our framework offers a conducive environment for further investigation into privacy behavior transformation methodologies. privacy behavior; privacy behavior transformation; privacy attitude; privacy behavior transformation framework +
Footnote †: journal: Cybersecurity and Privacy  
such as becoming a victim of identity theft and impersonation. Moreover, third parties may exploit this information for their own benefit, such as targeted advertising practices [10, 11] or even affecting people's voting opinion [12]. A number of studies have been conducted in an effort to determine the elements that contribute to the psychological, sociological, and behavioral motivations of ICT users' privacy-related actions [5, 6]. Numerous scholars have identified a range of factors that may have an impact on privacy behavior [7, 8, 13]. Consequently, by influencing these factors, it may be possible to influence ICT users' privacy behavior, including their tendency to disclose personal information, employ privacy-protective measures, or adjust privacy settings [7, 8]. Although there exist many scattered privacy behavior models, an integrated framework that may effectively facilitate such change is missing in the literature. In order to address this gap, in this paper, we integrate existing privacy behavior determinants and we rely on experiential behavior transformation theories, so as to develop a novel experiential privacy behavior transformation framework towards enabling ICT users' privacy-protective behavior. In summary, our paper addresses the following research questions:  
Research Question 1: Can an individual's privacy behavior be transformed through experiential methods? Research Question 2: Which experience method is more effective in transforming an individual's privacy behavior? To address the above research questions, in this paper, we suggest and validate the effectiveness of a novel privacy behavior transformation framework. This framework and its validation consist of an experiment that includes a variety of methods such us conducting questionnaires, interviews and applying behavioral transformation methodologies (such as experiential methodologies), as described in the following sections. These theories and methods are based on concrete scientific theories and methods from other disciplines such as cognitive behavior transformation methods. After the introduction, this paper continues with the literature review on privacy behavior theories and privacy behavior determinant factors. In Section 3, we investigate the theoretical background in experiential theories.