A skeptical look at dispositional reactance

Many studies have correlated dispositional reactance scales with other self-report scales, but no experiments have tested whether “trait reactance” replicates “state reactance” effects. Using a conventional reactance paradigm, an experiment examined the construct validity of dispositional reactance. College students (n = 78) read a communication that did or did not threaten their freedom to disagree, and then they reported their agreement. Threatening attitudinal freedom increased disagreement, thus replicating many reactance experiments. Dispositional reactance interacted with threats to freedom, but in a manner contrary to the construct’s predictions—“high reactance” people were more likely to agree with a pushy, coercive message. The findings question the construct validity of dispositional reactance.