From fighting the system to embracing it : Control loss promotes system justification among those high in psychological reactance
Journal article
Knight, Clinton, Tobin, Stephanie and Hornsey, Matthew. (2014). From fighting the system to embracing it : Control loss promotes system justification among those high in psychological reactance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 54, pp. 139 - 146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2014.04.012
Authors | Knight, Clinton, Tobin, Stephanie and Hornsey, Matthew |
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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. |
Year | 2014 |
Journal | Journal of Experimental Social Psychology |
Journal citation | 54, pp. 139 - 146 |
ISSN | 0022-1031 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2014.04.012 |
Page range | 139 - 146 |
Publisher's version | File Access Level Controlled |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/894z2/from-fighting-the-system-to-embracing-it-control-loss-promotes-system-justification-among-those-high-in-psychological-reactance
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