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Cited by 237Psychology of Social InfluenceBehavioral Health and InterventionsSocial and Intergroup Psychology

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Examining the Role of Trait Reactance and Sensation Seeking on Perceived Threat, State Reactance, and Reactance Restoration

Quick, Brian L., Stephenson, Michael T.·2008·Human Communication Research
DOI 10.1111/j.1468-2958.2008.00328.x
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Abstract

The present investigation sought to advance Psychological Reactance Theory (PRT) by examining whether trait reactance and sensation seeking influence the magnitude of a perceived threat, state reactance, and reactance restoration. Results revealed that high trait reactant (HTR) and low trait reactant (LTR) individuals and high sensation seekers (HSS) and low sensation seekers (LSS) processed persuasive messages similarly, adding credibility to recent PRT advances. Dogmatic and vivid language were perceived as a threat for most individuals. An interaction between dogmatic and vivid language on perceived threat was found for HTR and HSS for the sunscreen message. An indirect effect connecting language features and state reactance through perceived threat was supported. Regression analysis revealed that trait reactance and sensation seeking predict variables associated with state reactance.

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Metadata

Authors
Quick, B. L., & Stephenson, M. T.
Affiliations
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
  • Texas A&M University (US)
Corresponding author
Quick, Brian L.
ORCID
Venue
Human Communication Research
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2008-07
Volume
34
Issue
3
Pages
448-476
ISSN
  • 0360-3989 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-2958
DOI
10.1111/j.1468-2958.2008.00328.x
OpenAlex
W2013850260
Cited by
237
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 5
FWCI
16.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 2618 d)
Locations
Human Communication Research (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychology of Social Influence
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords
psychological reactance theory, trait reactance, sensation seeking, threat perception, persuasive messages, message credibility

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Examining the Role of Trait Reactance and Sensation Seeking on Perceived Threat, State Reactance, and Reactance Restoration. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2008.00328.x
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Quick, B. L., & Stephenson, M. T. (2008). Examining the Role of Trait Reactance and Sensation Seeking on Perceived Threat, State Reactance, and Reactance Restoration. Human Communication Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2008.00328.x