Avoiding Reactance Examples:
Receptive Language:
“The persuasive message in this study consisted of an advice that persuade people to conserve energy when using a washing machine. Threat to autonomy was induced by providing participants with either a high-threat advice…a low-threat advice (e.g., ‘The washing machine uses a lot of energy, so you could consider setting the temperature to 40 °C now and then instead of 60 °C.’), or a no-threat advice (e.g., ‘The washing machine uses a lot of energy. People could save energy by setting the temperature to 40 °C instead of 60 °C.’).”
Choice Enhancing:
“If you have an interviewee whom you know or expect to be averse to discussing any negative/traumatic experiences, you could try using “You have the chance to discuss any unfavorable experiences” instead of “Explain any traumatic experiences.” The first request uses an allusion to choice by stating “you have the chance;” this allows the person to feel as though they are making the choice. This makes the person feel the freedom to choose and as such reactance will not be experienced.”
Pre-request:
“Knowles and Riner (2007) asked strangers to mail a letter. The first group was simply asked, ‘Would you mail this letter for me?’ 71% agreed. The second group was asked, ‘I know you might not want to, but will you mail this letter for me?’ 100% agreed (Knowles & Riner, 2007).”
Post-request:
“If there is a specific person or event that the interviewee has skirted around and appears resistant to discuss, the interviewer could say, ‘There are some reasons to discuss person X in due time, how about just one detail, but it is up to you of course.’… First of all, the interviewer uses a qualified proposition by saying “some” reasons while increasing the psychological distance of the request by adding in due time. This will likely reduce or eliminate the interviewee from feeling forced into the discussion because the discussion is not presented as being imminent. The request for just one detail minimizes the request (see Table 1) by asking for just one piece of information. Finally, the request ends with the phrase “it is up to you of course” to emphasize freedom of choice and remind the interviewee they are not being forced into the discussion.”
Causing Reactance Examples:
High Controlling Language:
“After I was diagnosed with diabetes, things like nutrition labels and counting carbs became part of my daily life, but I still tell myself, ‘this is something you have to do. Eat less, and eat less sugar.’” (Gardner & Leshner, 2016, p. 742)
Choice Restricting:
“‘Dogmatic language triggers reactance. Quick and Stephenson describe dogmatic language as being 'characterized by forceful language that explicitly pressures audiences to conform to a message.'"
Argumentative Language:
"Scalar adverbs are classified as argumentative markers because they attempt to be used when trying to force others to draw specific conclusions over others. As such, scalar adverbs could be interpreted as an apparent attempt to influence decision making which in turn could trigger reactance (Coppola & Girandola, 2017).”