Reactance

Biological Parallel

Restrict a baboon's access to food and it escalates aggression—psychological reactance appears across social species. When dominant individuals block subordinates from resources, subordinates increase attempts to access the forbidden resource, even at risk of injury. Captive wolves denied preferred sleeping areas show increased territorial marking and status challenges. The reactance response: threats to behavioral freedom trigger compensatory motivation. Juvenile elephants separated from preferred associates show increased reunion-seeking behavior and stress vocalizations. Parrots denied preferred perches exhibit stereotypic pacing and feather-plucking—autonomy restriction creates behavioral pathology. The pattern: organisms evolved to maintain behavioral autonomy. Restrictions trigger motivation to restore freedom, even when the restricted behavior had low baseline value.