Normal Personality Variables and Their Relationship to Psychological Reactance
Author(s): Eric A. Seemann, Walter C. Buboltz, Adrian Thomas, Barlow Soper, Lamar Wilkinson
Abstract: This study examines the relationship between psychological reactance as measured by the Therapeutic Reactance Scale (TRS) and the five factor model of personality as measured by the NEO PI-R. The sample consisted of 310 undergraduate students at a mid-sized southern university. The TRS total score was regressed on the five domains of the NEO with three domains, Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Openness to Experience, retained in the solution. Two facets of Agreeableness (Straightforwardness and Compliance), one facet of Openness (Ideas), and four facets of Extraversion (Warmth, Assertiveness, Excitement-Seeking, and Positive Emotions) were significant. The significant domains and facets indicate that a reactant individual is likely to be controlling, territorial, possessive, suspicious, traditional, assertive, and moody. These results support previous findings with respect to psychological reactance and normal personality. Discussion includes speculation of types of reactant behavior as aspects of the reactance construct inferred by prior work. Study limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Pages: 88-98
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