Reactance

Biological Parallel

When a dominant baboon restricts a subordinate's movement, the subordinate often attempts the forbidden behavior specifically because it was restricted. Reactance emerges from autonomy preservation: accepting constraints signals submission and damages status. Resisting control—even at cost—advertises independence and tests boundaries. The 'forbidden fruit' effect is hierarchy navigation: individuals evolved to resist dominance assertions that threaten autonomy, making restrictions activate rather than suppress the target behavior.