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From fighting the system to embracing it : Control loss promotes system justification among those high in psychological reactance
Knight, Clinton Tobin, Stephanie Hornsey, Matthew
Knight, Clinton
Tobin, Stephanie
Hornsey, Matthew
Abstract
One way to restore a sense of control is to system justify. Individuals high in trait reactance are particularly motivated to regain a sense of control in the face of freedom loss. But will high-reactance individuals system justify to restore control, given that they typically oppose authority? Based on the Compensatory Control Model (CCM), we propose that high-reactance individuals' motivation to compensate for control loss will, at times, overcome this aversion to authority and lead to increased system justification. In Study 1, high-reactance American participants were shown to hold stronger oppositional attitudes toward government authority (i.e., they showed reduced system justification). In Studies 2–4, only high-reactance participants increased their support of government when personal control was reduced. Thus, for high-reactance individuals, the need for control compensation overpowers the need to hold anti-authority attitudes. Outcomes support a CCM account of control compensation for those high (not low) in trait reactance.
Keywords
Date
2014
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
Book
Volume
54
Issue
Page Range
139-146
Article Number
ACU Department
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled