An old advertisement for Dove ice cream bars touted the bars as "sinfully" delicious-so delicious that they should be banned or forbidden. The advertisement, which sought to make the bars seem as attractive to people as possible, was apparently playing on ____.
A) reactance
B) the status quo bias
C) the certainty effect
D) risk aversion

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The advertisement is playing on reactance, which is the psychological principle that people tend to resist being told what to do or what not to do. By implying that the bars are so delicious that they should be banned or forbidden, the advertisement is trying to provoke a reaction in which people are drawn to the bars precisely because they are being told not to have them.

An Old Advertisement for Dove Ice Cream Bars Touted the Bars