Psychological Reactance

Psychological reactance is the tendency to desire something more when we feel that our freedom to have it is being threatened. This is because we have a natural desire to be in control of our own lives. When we feel that our freedom is being threatened, we will often react by doing the opposite of what we are being told to do.

This is why censorship is so often counterproductive. When a book is banned, it often becomes more popular. This is because people want to read the book to see what all the fuss is about. They also want to assert their freedom to read whatever they want.

Psychological reactance is a powerful force that can be used to influence behavior. For example, a salesperson might tell you that you are not allowed to buy a particular product. This will often make you want the product more. This is because you want to assert your freedom to buy whatever you want.