During the trial of a teenager accused of a break-in, the judge issues instructions to disregard the testimony given by the teenager's current employer, a pizza restaurateur. According to the reactance theory, what affect will the instructions have on the jurors?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reactance theory suggests that when people feel their freedom to choose or consider options is restricted, they may react against this restriction. In this case, instructing jurors to disregard the testimony may actually increase their interest in and reliance on the inadmissible evidence, as it is perceived as a limitation on their freedom to consider all evidence.

During the Trial of a Teenager Accused of a Break-In