Suppose that you went out on two dates with someone from one of your classes. You were not crazy about the person, but you did not dislike the person either. You thought that you would just wait and see how things turned out. Surprisingly, however, the person sent you an e-mail after your second date and wrote: "I just don't think we have good chemistry, but it was nice meeting you! Sayonara!" All of a sudden, the person becomes much more attractive to you. You wonder what you did wrong, and you strategize about how to get another chance. You are MOST likely experiencing ____.
A)temporal discounting
B)reactance
C)the certainty effect
D)the omission bias

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of reactance, a psychological response where individuals desire something more when they believe their freedom to have it is threatened or taken away. When the person ended things, it suddenly made the prospect of dating them more attractive, triggering a desire to regain the lost opportunity.

Suppose That You Went Out on Two Dates with Someone