Behavioral Science and Insider Threat Course

Course Introduction: Behavioral Science and Insider Threat

• Impact of Insider Threats: Malicious insiders can cause tremendous damage to national security, as illustrated by the opening video clip from the National Insider Threat Task Force's 'Any Given Day' video.
  • Damage often could have been avoided if an observant colleague had spoken up.
  • Saving a coworker from making a bad decision can protect national security.
• Course Focus: This course covers behavioral science and its application to insider threat programs.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Determine why an organization may require the use of behavioral science to address potential insider threats.
• Explain how behavioral science may be applied to help prevent insider threats in an organization.
• Explain how behavioral science is used to determine possible insider threats.

Introduction to Key Concepts

This lesson defines behavioral science and organizational culture, relating their importance to insider threat prevention.

Insider Threat Definition

• DoD Directive $5205.16$ Definition: Insider threat is the threat insiders pose to DoD and U.S. Government installations, facilities, personnel, mission, or resources.
• Scope of Threat: This can include damage to the United States through:
  • Espionage
  • Terrorism
  • Unauthorized disclosure of national security information
  • Loss or degradation of departmental resources or capabilities
• Policy & Standards:
  • Insider Threat Programs are required for federal agencies, DoD components, and cleared industry.
  • Established in accordance with DoD and National Policy (e.g., Executive Order $13587$, Presidential Memorandum).
  • A multi-disciplinary approach is mandated for detecting, deterring, and mitigating insider threats.
  • Required capabilities include:
    • Law Enforcement
    • Counterintelligence
    • Security
    • Human Resources
    • Cybersecurity
    • Mental Health / Behavioral Science Professionals
• Historical Context: Landmark events influenced policy development:
  • $2009$ Fort Hood Shooting
  • $2010$ WikiLeaks
  • $2011$ Executive Order $13587$ / Presidential Memorandum establishing National Insider Threat Policy and Minimum Standards
  • $2013$ Washington Navy Yard Shooting
  • $2014$ DoD Directive $5205.16$

Behavioral Science Definition

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary Definition: A branch of science (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology) that primarily deals with human action and often seeks to generalize about human behavior in society.
• Core Principle: It's fundamentally about human behavior, which cannot be predicted with $100\%$ accuracy.
• Application: By studying human behavior, a degree of risk management can be applied.
• Availability: Not all organizations have internal behavioral science personnel, but they can access external resources.
• Roles of Behavioral Scientists: Provide training, consultation, and research, sometimes simultaneously.
  • Support to U.S. Intelligence Community and Federal Law Enforcement:
    • Clinical psychological assessment for personnel (e.g., psychological fitness for duty).
    • Organizational psychology (job analysis, selection, performance, leadership development, climate).
    • Personnel security-related consultation (background investigations, counterintelligence).
    • Forensic psychology research, analysis, and consultation for criminal investigations.
    • Specialized operational psychology support (hostage rescue, counterintelligence, personnel recovery).
    • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counseling and referral services.
• Link to Insider Threat: Behavioral scientists consider both individual behavior and organizational culture in relation to insider threat.

Organizational Culture Definition

• Definition: The set of underlying beliefs, assumptions, values, and norms of interaction that contribute to an organization's unique social and psychological environment.
• Importance: Functions as a