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reactance
In psychology, this term describes the emotional arousal and rebellious drive that occurs when people feel their options are being unfairly restricted. It is a defensive mechanism where the individual attempts to regain a sense of control by doing the exact opposite of what is requested or forbidden. This often manifests as stubbornness or defiance in response to high-pressure sales tactics or overly authoritative parenting. In electrical engineering, the term shifts to a technical measurement of impedance. It represents the resistance to current flow that is not caused by a resistor, but rather by the storage of energy in magnetic or electric fields. While psychological reactance is about behavioral pushback, electrical reactance is about the physical lag or lead between voltage and current in an AC system.
Countable when referring to a specific psychological instance of resistance (a strong reactance). Uncountable when referring to the general physical property in an electrical circuit.
Meanings
The tendency of a person to resist a perceived threat to their freedom of choice or autonomy.
"The strict rules triggered a strong sense of reactance among the students."
The opposition to the flow of alternating current caused by inductance or capacitance.
"The engineer measured the total reactance of the circuit."