PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTROL: REACTANCE, HELPLESSNESS, AND LOCUS OF CONTROL
Fernanda Sosa - Elena Zubieta (2020)
Summary:
1. INTRODUCTION
The study of beliefs about our ability to control the environment is essential in social psychology because it affects how we perceive
the world as predictable and less threatening (Barreiro & Zubieta, 2011). These beliefs, known as Psychological Control, influence
our adaptation and action in the environment (Blanco & Díaz, 2007).
Control is understood as knowledge, power, self-confidence, mastery of the environment, and freedom. Theories of control include
Psychological Reactance (Brehm, 1966), Learned Helplessness (Seligman, 1975), and Locus of Control (Rotter, 1966).
The perception of control reduces uncertainty and insecurity, while lack of control increases them. The illusion of control implies
an overestimation of our abilities to handle reality.
Ubillos and Zubieta (2001) highlight False Oneness, where we believe we have more capabilities and act more appropriately to
social norms than others. Controllability and predictability are key factors; Although independent, they are related. The more we
can foresee an event, the easier it will be to control it.
The COVID-19 pandemic challenges these concepts, as a lack of predictability and control leads to psychological and emotional
disturbance. The perception of control and effective responses are crucial to dealing with this situation.
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTANCE
Psychological Reactance, proposed by Brehm (1966), holds that when we feel threatened or lost our freedom, we experience an
emotional state and perform strategies to restore it. According to Fernandez (1994), Brehm observed this trend in young children
who showed more interest in forbidden objects. Reactance arises when we perceive that our behavioral options and decision-
making capacity are limited and can be triggered by real or imagined threats.
This phenomenon can occur when pressure is exerted to accept a point of view, such as in academic decisions imposed by the
family. Psychological reactance involves two elements: freedom (actions and decisions that we believe we have the right to
exercise) and the threat to that freedom. This phenomenon has been observed in group situations, such as when fundamental
rights are denied, and social movements emerge in response.
Wortman and Brehm (1975) identified factors influencing the intensity of reactance:
- Expectation of freedom: The more we believe we have freedom, the greater the reaction when it is limited.
- Importance of freedom: The reaction is more intense if freedom is important to us.
- Force of the threat: The elimination of a freedom generates more reaction than a simple threat.
- Implications for other freedoms: The reaction varies according to the perceived consequences for other freedoms.
These factors vary over time and sociocultural contexts. For example, women's expectation of freedom in Argentina has changed
significantly since 1940. In addition, beliefs and gender roles also influence these expectations.
The theory of psychological reactance also predicts:
- Change in the attractiveness of results: The motivation to perform a behavior increases if our freedom to carry it out is threatened.
- Dedication to threatened behavior: We attempt to restore our freedom by engaging in the behavior in question, depending on
the perceived cost.
- Restoration by implication: We engage in related behaviors to suggest that we might carry out the threatened behavior.
- Hostile and aggressive feelings: The threat to our freedom can generate hostile feelings towards the responsible agent.
Gender, self-esteem, and personality all influence the level of reactance. People with high self-esteem tend to perceive more
control and show higher levels of reactance to the threat to their freedom compared to those with low self-esteem.
1
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Fernanda Sosa - Elena Zubieta (2020)
Summary:
1. INTRODUCTION
The study of beliefs about our ability to control the environment is essential in social psychology because it affects how we perceive
the world as predictable and less threatening (Barreiro & Zubieta, 2011). These beliefs, known as Psychological Control, influence
our adaptation and action in the environment (Blanco & Díaz, 2007).
Control is understood as knowledge, power, self-confidence, mastery of the environment, and freedom. Theories of control include
Psychological Reactance (Brehm, 1966), Learned Helplessness (Seligman, 1975), and Locus of Control (Rotter, 1966).
The perception of control reduces uncertainty and insecurity, while lack of control increases them. The illusion of control implies
an overestimation of our abilities to handle reality.
Ubillos and Zubieta (2001) highlight False Oneness, where we believe we have more capabilities and act more appropriately to
social norms than others. Controllability and predictability are key factors; Although independent, they are related. The more we
can foresee an event, the easier it will be to control it.
The COVID-19 pandemic challenges these concepts, as a lack of predictability and control leads to psychological and emotional
disturbance. The perception of control and effective responses are crucial to dealing with this situation.
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTANCE
Psychological Reactance, proposed by Brehm (1966), holds that when we feel threatened or lost our freedom, we experience an
emotional state and perform strategies to restore it. According to Fernandez (1994), Brehm observed this trend in young children
who showed more interest in forbidden objects. Reactance arises when we perceive that our behavioral options and decision-
making capacity are limited and can be triggered by real or imagined threats.
This phenomenon can occur when pressure is exerted to accept a point of view, such as in academic decisions imposed by the
family. Psychological reactance involves two elements: freedom (actions and decisions that we believe we have the right to
exercise) and the threat to that freedom. This phenomenon has been observed in group situations, such as when fundamental
rights are denied, and social movements emerge in response.
Wortman and Brehm (1975) identified factors influencing the intensity of reactance:
- Expectation of freedom: The more we believe we have freedom, the greater the reaction when it is limited.
- Importance of freedom: The reaction is more intense if freedom is important to us.
- Force of the threat: The elimination of a freedom generates more reaction than a simple threat.
- Implications for other freedoms: The reaction varies according to the perceived consequences for other freedoms.
These factors vary over time and sociocultural contexts. For example, women's expectation of freedom in Argentina has changed
significantly since 1940. In addition, beliefs and gender roles also influence these expectations.
The theory of psychological reactance also predicts:
- Change in the attractiveness of results: The motivation to perform a behavior increases if our freedom to carry it out is threatened.
- Dedication to threatened behavior: We attempt to restore our freedom by engaging in the behavior in question, depending on
the perceived cost.
- Restoration by implication: We engage in related behaviors to suggest that we might carry out the threatened behavior.
- Hostile and aggressive feelings: The threat to our freedom can generate hostile feelings towards the responsible agent.
Gender, self-esteem, and personality all influence the level of reactance. People with high self-esteem tend to perceive more
control and show higher levels of reactance to the threat to their freedom compared to those with low self-esteem.
1
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