The Sheep-Goat Effect as a Matter of Compliance vs. Noncompliance: The Effect of Reactance in a Forced-Choice Ball Selection Test

Abstract

According to Reactance Theory (Brehm & Brehm 1981), when an individual's freedom is threatened through some form of coercion, reactance usually sets in. Reactance is "a motivational state aimed at restoring the threatened freedom" (Silvia 2005:277), which may explain the tendency for believers ('sheep') to psi-hit and non-believers ('goats') to psi-miss. In this study, the effect of reactance on psi performance was investigated using Ertel's (2005a, 2005b) Ball Selection Test. It was hypothesized that goats are more reactant than sheep in psi tests because goats are predisposed to disproving the psi hypothesis which requires noncompliance. In a laboratory setting, participants completed up to four runs (60 trials/run) of paranormal target-seeking (trying to predict the numbers on table tennis balls). Hit rate for the whole sample (N = 82) was significant, 21.06% (p = .002), where PMCE = 20%. Participants were randomly assigned to a control condition (n = 42) or treatment condition (n = 40) requiring them to read a statement that induced reactance. A significant reactance effect was found. There was no significant sheep-goat effect, but the relationship between psi-hit rates and sheep-goat scores was significant. Reactant goats scored significantly lower than control sheep, as expected, but not significantly lower than control goats. Pre-test scores on Tension and Confusion, as measured on The Profile of Mood States-Short Form (POMS-SF) (McNair, Lorr, & Droppleman 1971) predicted psi outcomes.