Reactance and spiritual possibilities: an application of psychological reactance theory

Psychological reactance theory (PRT) posits that threats to people’s freedom elicit reactance, an aversive motivational state that triggers freedom restoration. The current chapter utilizes PRT as a vehicle for understanding phenomena related to religious beliefs and behavior. Our focus here is on outlining the ways in which social, political, or environmental threats to people’s religious freedom can arouse reactance and a variety of associated outcomes, including increased religious adherence. In addition, we illustrate the ways in which restrictive faith-based regulations can arouse reactance among adherents, outcomes of which could be heresy (i.e., holding a belief contrary to religious orthodoxy) and apostasy (i.e., renouncing religious affiliation). We also propose that religions can use strategies from communication research to allay reactance and increase message effectiveness. Finally, we suggest future directions for research at the intersection of PRT and religious behavior.