Further evidence that psychological reactance can be modeled as a combination of anger and negative cognitions

Brian L Quick, Michael T. Stephenson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The primary objective of this investigation was to validate the recent operationalization of state reactance as a latent construct comprised of both affective and cognitive components. In addition to testing the operationalization of reactance, the authors tested the conceptual coherence of this construct by examining its association with threat-to-choice perceptions and ad persuasiveness of condom ads. Across seven condom television ads, the authors found evidence in support of treating reactance as a latent variable comprised of negative cognitions and state anger. An invariance test demonstrated that both of these variables loaded on reactance equivalently across all seven ads. In addition, results indicate that threat-to-choice perceptions are positively associated with reactance, thus providing conceptual consistency of this operationalization with Brehm's explication of reactance. Furthermore, the authors found evidence suggesting a negative association between ad persuasiveness with reactance and threat-to-choice perceptions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)255-276
Number of pages22
JournalCommunication Research
Volume34
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2007

Keywords

  • Condom ads
  • Message processing
  • Psychological reactance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Communication
  • Linguistics and Language

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