reactance theory

free behaviours

For a given person at a given time, there are a set of behaviours that he can engage in either presently or in the future

Step 3: The person acts to remove the restriction

Psychological reactance moves people to try to restore freedom by exhibiting opposition or resisting pressures to conform.

Step 1: People perceive an unfair restriction on their actions.

Their freedom or control of a situation has been unreasonably and unjustly threatened or eliminated.

Step 2: A state of psychological reactance is activated

This is an intense motivational state that drives individuals to protect their freedom to achieve preferred outcomes.

means to re-establish psychological equilibrium

1. Change his/her cognitions. 2. Change his/her behaviour. 3. Remove the threat. 4. Reconcile to the loss of freedom.

for behaviours to be free

1. It must be realistically possible. 2. The individual must have the relevant physical and psychological abilities to engage in them. 3. He must know (by experience, general custom or formal agreement) that he may engage in them.

Major kinds of consequences of reactance

1. Subjective - such effects are observed in verbal reports. 2. Behavioural - such effects are observed in overt behaviour as well as intentions to behave.

The magnitude of reactance is influenced by

1. The belief that one possesses a particular freedom. 2. The importance of the freedom to the person. 3. A perceived threat to one's freedom. 4. The strength of the threat to that freedom. 5. The proportion of the freedom threatened or eliminated. 6. The implication of any future threat to the freedom.

reactance theory

is a social psychological theory that explains human behavior in response to the perceived loss of freedom in an environment (Brehm, 1966).

The threat of freedom can come from various sources

• Direct ways: e.g. a powerful institution may impose its will on an individual. • Subtle ways: e.g. people may try to influence an individual's behaviour through persuasion

behavioural manifestations

• a) Indirect evidence (physiological tension, modifications of perceptions and judgments). • b) Direct action (exercising the freedom or displaying aggression).

criticism of reactance theory

It is not designed to assess the dynamism of social interaction and exchanges in the movement towards reduction of the psychological tension and achievement of equilibrium

criticism of reactance theory

The concept of reactance is a scientifically vague concept