Reactance

What is freedom?

Beliefs about the way we can think, feel, and act. Things we have control over

What is an example of reactance?

Little kid throws a tantrum because they do not want to wear a coat outside. It is not that they do not want to wear the coat but rather they do not want to be told what to do. This threatens their freedom to choose what they want to wear

What is state reactance?

Message triggers a reaction, more short term

Why is not all backlash actually reactance?

Reactance is specifically tied to perceived threats to freedom. Example: "removing no from your vocabulary" was more of an issue with poor taste than it was with a threat to freedom

What is restoration?

Reactance motivated people attempt to restore freedom by participating in the forbidden act Ex. Kid doesn't wear coat

What are the four kinds of reactance?

- Attitude or belief change - Behavioral change - No effect - Counter reaction (aka boomerang effect)

What are the four key components of the reactance theory?

- Freedom - Threat to freedom - Reactance - Restoration

What can lead to less reactance?

- Includes choice enhancing messages (we can inform you but ultimately it is your decision) - Empathy (if you can feel for someone you are less likely to counter argue, you are also less likely to feel like your freedom is being threatened) - Narrative with high sensation value (because it is so dramatic or novel you don't think about a negative reaction)

What are threats to freedom?

Anything that makes it difficult to exercise a freedom Ex. if you continue smoking cigarettes I will not pay your tuition - that is a threat to your ability to go to school

What is reactance?

Threats to freedom and autonomy, motivational state that occurs when a freedom is threatened or eliminated

What kind of messages might lead to more reactance?

- Domineering / controlling language - Intent to persuade (overwhelmingly trying to sell you something) - Narrative (if it tries to force an opinion) - Number of freedom threats increases

When does reactance occur?

- Individual beliefs that they have freedom over a particular outcome - this increases as the number of freedom threats increases - implied threats can also lead to reactance - Importance of freedom is related to the amount of reactance experienced (ex. a tattoo policy will not cause much reactance for you if you do not have any tattoos)

What is trait reactance?

Some people are more naturally inclined to react (personality trait), more long term