reactance Definition
a psychological phenomenon where people feel a strong urge to do the opposite of what someone is telling them to do, in order to prove their independence or autonomy.
Using reactance: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "reactance" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
When her parents told her not to date that boy, she felt reactance and started seeing him more often.
Example
The more the teacher told him to focus on his studies, the more reactance he felt and the less he studied.
Example
Reactance can sometimes lead to counterproductive behavior, such as when people refuse to wear masks during a pandemic because they feel their freedom is being threatened.
reactance Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for reactance
- resistance
- rebellion
- contrariness
- defiance
Phrases with reactance
a theory in psychology that explains how people respond when they feel their freedom or autonomy is being threatened
Example
Psychological reactance can explain why some people become more resistant to change when they feel their choices are being taken away.
a technique used to influence someone by telling them to do the opposite of what you actually want them to do, in order to trigger reactance and get them to do what you really want
Example
When the child refused to eat his vegetables, the mother used reverse psychology and told him not to eat them, triggering reactance and making him want to eat them even more.
a phenomenon where an attempt to change someone's attitude or behavior has the opposite effect, often due to reactance
Example
The anti-smoking campaign had a boomerang effect, as some people started smoking more in response to the perceived threat to their freedom.
Summary: reactance in Brief
The term 'reactance' [riˈæktəns] refers to a psychological phenomenon where people feel a strong urge to do the opposite of what someone is telling them to do, in order to prove their independence or autonomy. It can lead to counterproductive behavior and is often triggered when people feel their freedom or autonomy is being threatened. Examples include refusing to wear masks during a pandemic and disobeying authority figures.
