Psychological reactance - Essay Example

Psychological reactance Part Fundamental attribution error Also known as correspondence bias, fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency of people to emphasize on internal characteristics of an individual when analyzing a situation instead of considering the nature of the external factors as well (Heider, F. (1958). People behave differently in various situations owing to their understanding the situation. Others who observe from a distance tend to criticize the behavior based on their feelings and prejudice about the other person’s internal factors.

I was seated on the co-driver’s seat as my uncle drove down the hospital road. The green light at the junction shone green and so he cruised passed. However, another car came from the junction and ignored the lights thereby causing a scare. My uncle was quick to curse calling the driver incompetent and reckless. We could not understand that the driver was under pressure to reach his sick patient to the hospital.Part 2Legislation is not the best strategy of making appreciate the cumulative risks of their behavior.

Some people find pleasure in disobeying authority. Such a psychological explanation is likely to apply in this context, as people are likely to act with the view of provoking the legislations. Proving some of such cumulative effects of behavior in a court of law would prove both challenging and unusual. Additionally, it would make people increasingly sensitive to the actions of others. Psychological reactance explains that people are likely to react adversely against legislations that try to eliminate behavioral freedoms.

As such, instead of laws the society should carry out civic education thereby encourage positive behavior and cultivate the culture of accountability. This helps develop a responsive population.ReferenceHeider, F. (1958). The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations. New York, John Wiley & Sons