Reactants: The Phenomenon of Doing the Opposite

When people are told not to do something, they are more likely to do it due to reactants. Research shows that telling participants not to think about white bears actually makes them think about them more. This phenomenon extends beyond simple thoughts and can also influence behavior. For example, a dating app called Bumble increased downloads by telling people not to download it. Similarly, government ads that ask people to 'stop graffiti' actually lead to more graffiti. Reactants occur when people's sense of control and freedom is threatened, causing them to push back and do the opposite of what is asked.