Privacy theories and their connection to privacy cynicism

Privacy cynicism is a relatively new concept that has not yet been thoroughly linked to privacy theories. To be able to make accurate theoretical predictions in future studies, this chapter will link privacy cynicism and its sub-dimensions (i.e., uncertainty, powerlessness, mistrust, and resignation) to renowned privacy concepts and theories (i.e., privacy as control and trust, the privacy calculus, communication privacy management theory, and protection motivation theory). Generally, the concept of privacy cynicism and its sub-dimensions integrate well with the existing theories. Privacy cynicism accompanies a low perception of privacy and a lack of perceived opportunities to change one's situation. Accordingly, privacy cynicism may undermine the psychological mechanisms associated with digital privacy protection. Furthermore, contemporary institutional norms of surveillance and data collection make online environments a potential breeding ground for privacy cynicism. Lastly, the theoretical analyses raise questions about whether the four sub-dimensions constitute a coherent construct.