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    Reactance Theory

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    Yazdan Hodaei
    Reactance is a motivational reaction to offers, persons, rules, or regulations that threaten or eliminate specific behavioral freedoms.

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    Reactance Theory

    Uploaded by

    Yazdan Hodaei
    202 views12 pages
    Reactance is a motivational reaction to offers, persons, rules, or regulations that threaten or eliminate specific behavioral freedoms.

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

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    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

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    Reactance is a motivational reaction to offers, persons, rules, or regulations that threaten or eliminate specific behavioral freedoms.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    202 views12 pages

    Reactance Theory

    Uploaded by

    Yazdan Hodaei
    Reactance is a motivational reaction to offers, persons, rules, or regulations that threaten or eliminate specific behavioral freedoms.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 12

    PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTANCE THEORY

    JessicaJ.Tomasello ConservationBehavior October14,2008

    BACKGROUND:REACTANCE THEORY
    Brehm &Brehm (1966): ATheoryofPsychologicalReactance | Brehm &Brehm (1981): PsychologicalReactance:ATheoryofFreedomandControl | DepartmentofPsychology,UniversityofKansas | Laboratorybasedsocialpsychologicalresearch
    |

    PURPOSE
    Outlinesasetofmotivationalconsequencesthatcanbe expectedtooccurwheneverfreedomsarethreatenedor lost | Specifies:
    |

    Whatfreedomsare y Howtheycanbethreatened y Howtheresultingpsychologicalstate(reactance)ismanifested


    y

    (Brehm &Brehm,1981)

    GENERAL TENETS OF REACTANCE


    Freedomsarespecific,discrete;behavioralandattitudinal | Itisimportantforanindividualtomaintainhisorherchoice alternativestomaximizerewardsofbehavior | Reductionofchoicealternativesresultsinamotivational statetoreinstatelostalternativesorengageinbehavior whichwasthreatenedreassertionoffreedom increasedinterestin threatenedbehaviorsor attitudes decreasedattractionto forcedbehaviors | Threatscanbeeithersocialorinterpersonal
    |

    WHAT IS REACTANCE?
    |

    Threattoorlossoffreedomsmotivatespersontorestore freedom

    Reactance=intensemotivationalstate
    Manifestedthroughbehaviororactiontorestorefreedom y Personisoftenemotional,irrational,andsingleminded
    y

    EXAMPLES OF REACTANCE??????

    VARIABLES
    |

    Freedoms:
    Freebehaviorswhicharerealisticallypossible y Personmusthavephysicalandpsychologicalabilitiestoengagein behavior y Mustknowthatheorshecandothebehavior(knowledge)
    y

    Restriction/threattofreedom
    Mustbeperceivedasanunfairrestriction y Somethingisdeniedandthisissimplyunfair!
    y

    Reactance

    PROCESS OF REACTANCE
    |

    Perceptionofunfairrestrictiontowardactions/behaviors

    Reactanceisactivated

    Takeactiontoreduce/removereactance
    (ButterfieldBooth,1996)

    STUDIES
    Mazis &Settle,1972:laundrydetergentinDade,County, Florida | Reich&Robertson,1979:antilitteringcampaigns | Propst &Kurtzz,1989:frameworkforleisurebehavior | Fogarty,1997:healthcareindustry&patient noncompliance | Schwartz(1970):bloodmarrowdonors
    |

    ASSUMPTIONS
    Aperson,atanygiventime,hasasetoffreebehaviors whichheorshecouldengageinnoworinthefuture | Personhasknowledgeofthesefreebehaviors | Reactanceisarousedtotheextentthatapersonbelieveshe orshehascontroloverpotentialoutcome | Thegreatertheimportanceofthreatenedfreedoms,the greaterthereactancearoused | Theamountofreactanceisdirectfunctionofnumberof freedomsthreatened | Freedomscanbethreatenedbyimplicationmagnitudeof reactanceisgreaterwhenimpliedthreatsoccur
    |

    (Brehm &Brehm,1981)

    ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES
    |

    Advantages:
    Applicabletoanysituationinwhichthereisexpectationoffreedom andthreatarises Providesrecommendationsforwaystoreducereactanceinbehavior changecampaigns

    Disadvantages:
    Assumespeoplehaveanexpectationoffreedom Canbedifficulttomeasurereactance,freedom

    Others???

    IMPLICATIONS
    | | |

    Individualsareoftenmotivatedtoresistoractcountertosocial influence(e.g.masspersuasion) Importanttoexaminepossibilitiesofrepercussionsofprohibitive laws Behaviorchange:reactancecanreducedurabilityandreliability


    (DeYoung,2000)

    Whatimplicationsdoesthistheoryhaveforconservation behavior?

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