Reactance: The Psychology of Defiance When Freedom Is Threatened

The examples in the lecture illustrate the concept of reactance by showing how individuals respond when their freedom is restricted or threatened. In the first example, when a child's parents forbid them from playing in their favorite playground, the child experiences reactance. They feel that their freedom has been unfairly limited, and as a result, they are motivated to restore their freedom by directly contradicting or opposing their parents' rule. The child sneaks over to the playground despite the rules, indicating their desire to reestablish control and freedom in the situation.

Similarly, in the second example, when the town passes a law banning the sale of a certain kind of soap, people react with resistance. They believe that they should have the freedom to buy whatever soap they want and perceive the restriction as unfair. As a result, people engage in reactance by purchasing a large quantity of the soap before the law goes into effect, demonstrating their attempt to restore their freedom and control over their choices.

Overall, both examples highlight how reactance manifests when individuals feel their freedom is being infringed upon. They respond by engaging in behaviors that directly contradict or oppose the rules or regulations that threaten their freedom, aiming to regain control and restore their sense of freedom.