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Developing an ‘Insider Language Index’ as a composite measure to detect insider threat

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

E-pub ahead of print

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Developing an ‘Insider Language Index’ as a composite measure to detect insider threat. / Martlew, Natasha G.; Ball, Linden J.; Dando, Coral J. et al.
In: Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 29.05.2025.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Martlew, NG, Ball, LJ, Dando, CJ, Ormerod, TC, Taylor, PJ, Menacere, T, Sandham, AL & Richardson, BH 2025, 'Developing an ‘Insider Language Index’ as a composite measure to detect insider threat', Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2025.2486081

APA

Martlew, N. G., Ball, L. J., Dando, C. J., Ormerod, T. C., Taylor, P. J., Menacere, T., Sandham, A. L., & Richardson, B. H. (2025). Developing an ‘Insider Language Index’ as a composite measure to detect insider threat. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2025.2486081

Vancouver

Martlew NG, Ball LJ, Dando CJ, Ormerod TC, Taylor PJ, Menacere T et al. Developing an ‘Insider Language Index’ as a composite measure to detect insider threat. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 2025 May 29. Epub 2025 May 29. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2025.2486081

Author

Martlew, Natasha G. ; Ball, Linden J. ; Dando, Coral J. et al. / Developing an ‘Insider Language Index’ as a composite measure to detect insider threat. In: Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 2025.

Bibtex

@article{eec3900b8af7415689d8bbc528ad7631,
title = "Developing an {\textquoteleft}Insider Language Index{\textquoteright} as a composite measure to detect insider threat",
abstract = "Of all the issues that confront modern organisations, insider threat is one of the most challenging in terms of impact and mitigation. Typically, research has focused on defining what insider threat is and determining how such threats can be detected through technology. We suggest that technological approaches to insider-threat detection can be complemented through a greater focus on investigating the linguistic behaviours associated with insider activity. Research has highlighted that an individual{\textquoteright}s use of language offers a potential means of identifying insiders. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, this study analysed the language used by insiders and non-insiders during workplace interviews. Results revealed that, compared to non-insiders, insiders used significantly more words relating to cognitive processing, significantly more self-referential terms, and significantly more negative emotion words. Based on these findings, a generalisable Insider Language Index (ILI) was developed that has the potential to support insider detection in organisational contexts.",
author = "Martlew, {Natasha G.} and Ball, {Linden J.} and Dando, {Coral J.} and Ormerod, {Thomas C.} and Taylor, {Paul J.} and Tarek Menacere and Sandham, {Alexandra L.} and Richardson, {Beth H.}",
year = "2025",
month = may,
day = "29",
doi = "10.1080/13218719.2025.2486081",
language = "English",
journal = "Psychiatry, Psychology and Law",
issn = "1321-8719",
publisher = "Routledge",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Developing an ‘Insider Language Index’ as a composite measure to detect insider threat

AU - Martlew, Natasha G.

AU - Ball, Linden J.

AU - Dando, Coral J.

AU - Ormerod, Thomas C.

AU - Taylor, Paul J.

AU - Menacere, Tarek

AU - Sandham, Alexandra L.

AU - Richardson, Beth H.

PY - 2025/5/29

Y1 - 2025/5/29

N2 - Of all the issues that confront modern organisations, insider threat is one of the most challenging in terms of impact and mitigation. Typically, research has focused on defining what insider threat is and determining how such threats can be detected through technology. We suggest that technological approaches to insider-threat detection can be complemented through a greater focus on investigating the linguistic behaviours associated with insider activity. Research has highlighted that an individual’s use of language offers a potential means of identifying insiders. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, this study analysed the language used by insiders and non-insiders during workplace interviews. Results revealed that, compared to non-insiders, insiders used significantly more words relating to cognitive processing, significantly more self-referential terms, and significantly more negative emotion words. Based on these findings, a generalisable Insider Language Index (ILI) was developed that has the potential to support insider detection in organisational contexts.

AB - Of all the issues that confront modern organisations, insider threat is one of the most challenging in terms of impact and mitigation. Typically, research has focused on defining what insider threat is and determining how such threats can be detected through technology. We suggest that technological approaches to insider-threat detection can be complemented through a greater focus on investigating the linguistic behaviours associated with insider activity. Research has highlighted that an individual’s use of language offers a potential means of identifying insiders. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, this study analysed the language used by insiders and non-insiders during workplace interviews. Results revealed that, compared to non-insiders, insiders used significantly more words relating to cognitive processing, significantly more self-referential terms, and significantly more negative emotion words. Based on these findings, a generalisable Insider Language Index (ILI) was developed that has the potential to support insider detection in organisational contexts.

U2 - 10.1080/13218719.2025.2486081

DO - 10.1080/13218719.2025.2486081

M3 - Journal article

JO - Psychiatry, Psychology and Law

JF - Psychiatry, Psychology and Law

SN - 1321-8719

ER -