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Reactance: a Freedom-Based Theory of Choice

Author

Listed:
  • Niels Boissonnet

    (Universität Bielefeld = Bielefeld University)

  • Alexis Ghersengorin

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

A decision exhibits reactance if it is not directly welfare maximizing but represents a way to protest against a threat to the decision maker's freedom of choice. We provide a first axiomatic revealed preference characterization of this phenomenon, which yields necessary and sufficient conditions for deviations from rational choice to be ascribed to reactance. These conditions are shown to characterize a representation of preferences underlying choices consistent with reactance. We next look at two applications that have been (informally) associated with reactance in the psychology literature and demonstrate that reactance can imply the emergence of conspiracy theories and a backlash of integration policy targeted towards immigrants. Finally, we derive the resulting preference ordering over opportunity sets for agents whose final choices are consistent with reactance.

Suggested Citation

  • Niels Boissonnet & Alexis Ghersengorin, 2022. "Reactance: a Freedom-Based Theory of Choice," Working Papers hal-03672722, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-03672722
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03672722
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. B. Douglas Bernheim, 2009. "Behavioral Welfare Economics," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 7(2-3), pages 267-319, 04-05.
    2. Abdelgadir, Aala & Fouka, Vasiliki, 2020. "Political Secularism and Muslim Integration in the West: Assessing the Effects of the French Headscarf Ban," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 114(3), pages 707-723, August.
    3. Klaus Nehring & Clemens Puppe, 2002. "A Theory of Diversity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 70(3), pages 1155-1198, May.
    4. Antoinette Baujard, 2006. "Conceptions of freedom and ranking opportunity sets. A typology," Economics Working Paper Archive (University of Rennes & University of Caen) 200611, Center for Research in Economics and Management (CREM), University of Rennes, University of Caen and CNRS.
    5. Vasiliki Fouka, 2020. "Backlash: The Unintended Effects of Language Prohibition in U.S. Schools after World War I," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 87(1), pages 204-239.
    6. Kreps, David M, 1979. "A Representation Theorem for "Preference for Flexibility"," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 47(3), pages 565-577, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jana Freundt & Holger Herz & Leander Kopp, 2023. "Intrinsic Preferences for Choice Autonomy," CESifo Working Paper Series 10342, CESifo.
    2. Freundt, Jana & Herz, Holger & KOPP, leander, 2023. "Intrinsic Preferences for Autonomy," FSES Working Papers 530, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Freiburg/Fribourg Switzerland.

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    Keywords

    revealed preferences; freedom; reactance;
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