Proscriptive Injunctions Can Elicit Greater Reactance and Lower Legitimacy Perceptions Than Prescriptive Injunctions.pdf (449.12 kB)
Proscriptive injunctions can elicit greater reactance and lower legitimacy perceptions than prescriptive injunctions
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 03:52 authored by Louisa Pavey, Susan Churchill, Paul SparksBased on previous research investigating proscriptive injunctions (requesting that one should not do something) versus prescriptive injunctions (requesting that one should do something), we propose that proscription leads to greater reactance than does prescription for a range of actions, and that this effect is associated with lower perceived legitimacy of the injunction. Across five experimental studies, our student and general population samples received proscriptions or prescriptions and reported their reactance. Proscription led to greater reactance than did prescription in all five studies. This effect was accentuated by an authoritative source (Study 2), was mediated by the perceived legitimacy of the request (Study 3 and Study 4), and was attenuated by a self-affirmation intervention (Study 5). We suggest that proscriptions are viewed as more obligatory than prescriptions, limit the scope of behavioral alternatives, restrict perceived autonomy, and elicit greater reactance. The findings have implications for the design of effective persuasive communications.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Personality and Social Psychology BulletinISSN
0146-1672Publisher
SAGE PublicationsExternal DOI
Volume
48Page range
676-689Event location
United StatesDepartment affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2022-06-14First Open Access (FOA) Date
2022-06-14First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2022-06-14Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC