Reactance (psychology)

Under psychological reactance is meant a complex defense reaction which can be considered as a resistance to external or internal constraints. Reactance is usually triggered by psychological pressure (for example, coercion, threats, emotional argument operator) or the restriction of liberty game rooms (eg bans, censorship). As reactance in the strict sense refers not the subsequent behavior, but the underlying motivation or attitude.

Reactance is typically the " lure of the forbidden " basis. It is similar to defiance, which, however, can also occur for reasons other than the circumcision of freedom.

• 4.1 mediation
• 4.2 Work and trading psychology
• 4.3 Psychotherapy

Reactance and reaktantes behavior

Typical of the reactance is an appreciation of the eliminated alternative, that is, just those freedoms that were taken of the person, are now seen as particularly important. The affected ability to act, the person previously have been completely unimportant. In extreme cases, the person of this course of action before the onset of limitation has never exercised, the plot since the occurrence of the restriction exerts however. Reaktantes behavior is now really command such actions. In this way, the person would like to recapture these freedoms to speak ( even if it no longer is possible if necessary ).

Examples

• ⇒ sell the goods appear more desirable than previously limited editions.
• Parenting ⇒ " the food / beverage (eg cola) is not for you, you 're too little " in many cases leads to a " now I want it but still eat / drink ".

Theory of reactance

The problem area has been studied extensively by Jack W. Brehm, 1966 in his theory of reactance. Brehm's research has found particular input into the work of psychology and in the psychology of selling. Reactance is considered here together with lethargy ( according to the theory of learned helplessness by Martin Seligman, 1986) and over- conformity as one of the three main response patterns to external pressure or restrictions.

Occurrence of reactance

After Wicklund (1974 ) Reaktanzverhalten occurs in particular when

• External influence attempts to change or control settings are made [ active social influence from the outside ] or
• Barriers are erected [ passive social influence from the outside ] or
• A forced choice between different alternatives is [ active / passive disability from the inside ].

Strength of the reactance

The strength of the reactance depends on the following factors:

• Extent of subjective freedom loss: the greater the number of threatened or eliminated decision alternatives, the greater the reactance.
• Strength of freedom restriction, the greater the threat to freedom (possibly threatened, highly threatened, lost forever, etc.), the greater the reactance.
• Importance of restricted freedom: the reactance is greater: the larger the instrumental value of the threatened behavior to achieve a certain goal;
• The greater the strength of the corresponding need.

Specific effects of reactance

General Brehm differentiated between subjective effects that do not manifest themselves directly in the observable behavior and therefore can not be controlled by the environment, and behavioral effects. This, however, often contain anti-social reactions that are negatively sanctioned. Therefore, under certain circumstances occur only subjective, but no behavioral effects.

In detail, the main classes of reactions:

• Direct restoration of freedom through appropriate behavior actions: effective way of Reaktanzreduktion,
• But often not possible because of negative sanctions or irreversible elimination of freedom.

• Instrumental aggression;
• Non-specific aggression.

The experiment originally described by Brehm ran as follows: Two experimental groups were asked to rate various records in the course of two days. The people of one group was informed that they could choose a record as a reward for participating in the end. The people of the other group received the information that they would get assigned as a reward one of the plates. On the second day of the experiment, both groups were informed that two of the four records were no longer available.

In the group was allowed to choose a record, then the evaluation of the eliminated alternative has considerably increased ( reactance ). In the other group it decreased contrast (sour grapes effect). The reason for this effect is interpreted: The plate, which is now out of reach, could have been allocated to the participants of the second group principle. By eliminating these uncontrollable alternative creates cognitive dissonance. This can be easily degraded by the eliminated alternative is evaluated as less präferabel. There is, so to speak instead of minimizing a virtual sense of loss.

The name Sour Grapes effect refers to a fable of Aesop, The Fox and the Grapes.

Integration model of helplessness and reactance

After Wortmann and Brehm (1975 ) Learned helplessness and reactance to refer to comparable situations. The loss of freedom of reactance can be equated by them with the Unkontrollierbarkeitskomponente of helplessness theory. Regarding the consequences of Unkontrollierbarkeitserfahrung to reactance and helplessness theory but differ considerably: Reaktanztheoretisch the individual responds to loss of control, for example, with appreciation or aggression while expected to be in the helplessness theory withdrawal and passivity. Wortmann and Brehm integrated forms of this reaction in a common model. Thus, short lead Unkontrollierbarkeitserfahrungen the simultaneous existence of a supreme audit expectation Reaktanzverhalten while continuing Unkontrollierbarkeitserfahrungen without higher-level control expectations lead to helplessness effects.

A very similar effect can be explained in front of the same background, but is not part of the integration model by Wortmann and Brehm: Expects a subject due to past Reaktanzerlebnisse to get into a situation in which their liberties will be restricted, so this may also to upgrade the remaining possibilities for action lead. According to this principle, for example, the Schnäppchenjägerei commercially, if not the shopping addiction be simply explained. A actually entering lack of freedom of action must not occur here, since only the conceivability is action-guiding.

Have some importance in such a phenomenon certainly bans from the past of the individual as well as acquired Reviews from communicating with other people. Anders is hard to explain why group-dynamic effects arise when, for example, people scramble to Wühltischen to goods, in principle, there is never a lack of range of the.

The reverse effect in the sense of learned helplessness can be observed when a subject is able to decide not only in an oversupply no choice but also not in a foreseeable shortage, which can lead to a personal emergency. Thus, a state is legally interpreted as disorientation and leads with application of social legislation for the care that acts as an actual, temporary curtailment of liberties for the sake of assisted.

Both above-mentioned effects are described in easy to follow method of handling material goods. No less likely is its occurrence, however, in dealing with non-material goods, resulting in a political relevance of the conceptual model.

Adequate correlations with the above-mentioned integration model are not yet occupied.

Applications

Mediation

If in a mediation a certain restriction of the behavior is required, can affect a successful resolution of the conflict reaktantes mediated behavior. Again, the possibility of participation as well as the understanding of the legitimacy of the behavior restriction a way to reduce reactance.

Labor and trade Psychology

In connection with corporate restructuring may occur Reaktanzverhalten whole departments if they have not been considered or consulted enough about the introduction of new techniques. To avoid such effects, an appropriate information policy, a participation of the departments concerned and, if appropriate staff training is necessary. These measures - assuming a good implementation - can be reactance as well as learned helplessness or over- conformity reduce proven. Here as particularly important the opportunity to participate has proved.

Since the everyday behavior of the customers of commercial establishments often influenced by reactance, if not determined, dedicated especially the Study of commerce, particularly their branch doctrine trading psychology, this phenomenon. Perceives a customer 's freedom of choice between different articles threatened ( " While supplies last ", " Sold" notice on a window display, etc.), it will try the stress state into which he has fallen by dismantle and restore the freedom of state again and enhance the threatened or lost alternative. " In this experiment, all sorts can happen: Active commitment to the inaccessible product, now more than ever ', aggression, defiance, anger, devaluation or avoidance of the business. " ( Schenk, p 34)

Psychotherapy

The reactance is in many therapeutic approaches, no explicit topic, although they where external motivation plays a role in all cases - Child and adolescent psychotherapy and all brought about by (judicial or otherwise) requirements therapies, such as drug therapy or Forensic Psychiatry - considered must be. Directions, which implicitly use the reactance, in order to facilitate changes are as follows:

• In hypnotherapy, Ericksonian many cases are known in which he effected by clever use of reactance change.
• The Provocative Therapy by Frank Farrelly
• Viktor E. Frankl's Logotherapy uses the reactant tendency as the basis of what he described as " paradoxical intention ". The patient should transform this seemingly involuntary, disruptive phenomena in deliberate intent: to sleep around so by the ( paradoxical ) intent, necessarily be resolved to stay awake.

Literary Examples of reaktantes behavior

A famous example from the literature is an episode from Tom Sawyer. Tom presents to all sorts of nonsense. One day he is sentenced to emphasize the house fence.

When the first friend Tom vorbeischlendert, the mockery is inevitable, of course. Tom does not impress: Who wants to swim when he gets the chance to paint a fence! With all the enthusiasm possible only Tom Sawyer engrossed in the work here carries a brush stroke on, there eyeing a not perfectly painted body. His friend Ben disbelieves, is curious and wonders if he might not even allowed to painters a little. Tom Sawyer looks at him skeptically, doubting whether Ben can do the job well enough, as his Aunt Polly was very critical in such matters. Ben is nervous and Tom offers an apple. Tom winds up a bit, he finally agrees. At the end of the day he has convinced several of his friends that they would rather not be deleted as this fence.

He has his friend an option of leisure palatable that he would not actually voluntarily taken into account - they would not have been so hard to achieve. Only the fact that Tom referred to its critical aunt and thus subliminally suggested, only the best would be able to accomplish such a task, he was able to convince Ben. What's more, the friend even paid for it to do the job. To paint the fence, now appeared as something very special - and the fact that Aunt Polly did not make any this work, made the possibility even more attractive. The plot of the fence was suddenly strike an exclusive option.

The story of Romeo and Juliet can be interpreted as relative to the reactance. The prohibition and the social constraints that determine their freedom to choose a partner who makes them all the more attractive for each other and motivates them to visit the Forbidden ( " Romeo and Juliet effect"). So they have, in spite of the tragic end of their freedom ( or maybe just an illusion of freedom ) is restored, but it paid with their lives and thus deprived of any other freedom.