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Article: Reverse psychology

Reverse psychology is a technique involving the assertion of a belief or behavior that is opposite to the one desired. This approach has the expectation of encouraging the subject to be persuaded into having the desired reaction. This technique relies on the psychological phenomenon of reactance, in which a person has a negative emotional reaction to being persuaded, and thus chooses the option which is being advocated against. This may work especially well on a person who is resistant by nature, while direct requests works best for people who are compliant. The one being manipulated is usually unaware of what is really going on.

In 1976, James W. Pennebaker and D. Y. Sanders conducted an experiment to test the effects of authority and reactance arousal over the course of two weeks. They used college bathroom walls to convey their idea of how people will react to the authority. One wall states "Do not write on these walls under any circumstances," and the other wall "Please don't write on these walls." After the two weeks, the wall stating not to write on it under any circumstances had the most graffiti over it. This experiment proved the reactance theory, that people will act opposed to what is told. When people feel like their freedom is being compromised, they tend to act out and go against authority to predominately assert themselves and reestablish their individual freedom. This works with reverse psychology because the behavior outcome is the opposite of what should have been expected.