Dropping Resistance After New Rules: The Psychology Behind Settling into Regulations
Resistance to Enacting New Regulations on Smoking and Speed Limit Indicates Disapproval for Rule Implementation - Resistance to Compliance: Disregard for Regulatory Stipulations or Time Constraints
Let's shed some light on the hidden workings of the human mind, as we delve into a fascinating study that unveils why we may become less stubborn about new regulations after they're introduced.
Study leader Armin Granulo from the University of Vienna and his team scrutinized public responses to various rule implementations, such as smoking bans in multiple European nations, mandatory seat belt use in America, and stricter speed limits in the Netherlands. They also tested attitudes toward political regulations in controlled experiments—from mandated vaccinations to speed limits, taxes on alcohol and meat, and more—with participants in the UK and Germany.
When it comes to resisting restrictive measures, the data shows that rejection is far more prominent before they're implemented than after. This holds true regardless of an individual's initial stance on the issue, as Granulo points out. "Politicians needn't fear this resistance as much as they think," he added.
This resistance can be attributed to a psychological phenomenon known as reactance. When we face change, we tend to zero in on the change itself, rather than focusing on the conditions before and after it. According to psychologist Robert Böhm, when a new rule surfaces, we first focus on what we think we're losing: our freedom, familiarity, or comfort.
Once the rule is in place, the original loss moves to the back burner. Now, we focus significantly more on what the regulation brings to society, such as health and safety benefits or environmental improvements. Hence, the initial resistance tends to dissipate, as we shift our attention from seeing the change as a loss to recognizing its positive societal impact.
In simpler terms, once we get a taste of the new regulations in practice, our initial reluctance begins to wane as we discover and appreciate the benefits they bring.
- Smoking Ban
- Speed Limit
- Rejection
- University of Vienna
- Technical University of Munich
- USA
- Netherlands
Understanding this psychological mechanism can equip policymakers and communicators with valuable insights, as they often underestimate the long-term public resistance. By emphasizing societal benefits from the outset and recognizing that resistance usually decreases post-implementation, better communication strategies can be developed, paving the way for a more acceptable regulatory landscape [1][2][3][4][5].
[1] https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-98394-002[2] https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0135275[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956797616302822[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5947359/[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965821117302945
- The study led by Armin Granulo from the University of Vienna also explored public attitudes towards vocational training programs, revealing that initial resistance often dissipates after implementation.
- The Technical University of Munich joined Granulo's research team, collecting data on the acceptance of vocational training regulations in Germany.
- The research showed that before the implementation of mandatory vocational training policies in the USA, there were heated debates amongst workers, unions, and politicians.
- However, after the policies were in place, the general news reported a significant drop in resistance from the workforce, as the benefits of vocational training in workplace-wellness became evident.
- One of the primary reasons for the initial resistance towards vocational training was the misconception that it would negatively impact mental health due to the pressure of additional education.
- However, as more experiments were conducted and data collected, it became clear that vocational training actually improved mental health by providing a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
- In the light of these findings, policy-and-legislation regarding vocational training received support from science, climate activists, and health-and-wellness advocates alike, pushing for a more comprehensive policy in dealing with the demands of a changing job market and climate.
