Choiceology with Katy Milkman cover image

Rebel With a Cause: With Guests Francis Kelly & Christopher Bryan

Choiceology with Katy Milkman

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Understanding Reactance: The Struggle for Autonomy

Reactance is an instinctive impulse to reclaim autonomy when individuals perceive external control over their choices as illegitimate. This impulse manifests prominently during adolescence, as teenagers often resist parental authority, viewing it as overly controlling. Parents may believe their authority is justified, but adolescents are in a developmental stage focused on gaining independence and asserting their own decision-making capabilities. Classic examples include common teenage refusals, such as declining to clean their room or rejecting certain foods, highlighting the natural resistance to perceived infringement on personal agency. Recognizing these patterns of reactance is crucial for understanding interactions between authority and autonomy across different life stages.

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