Evaluating the Factor Structure and Internal Consistency Reliability of the Therapeutic Reactance Scale

Psychological reactance is an important construct for social scientists. The measure most often used to tap psychological reactance is the Therapeutic Reactance Scale (TRS; E. T. Dowd, C. R. Milne, & S. C. Wise, 1991). However, little research to date has examined the psychometric properties of the TRS. Eight hundred and eighty‐three individuals completed the TRS, and their responses were factor analyzed. Evidence indicates that psychological reactance is a multidimensional phenomenon. As currently written and interpreted however, the TRS is unable to accurately measure these multiple dimensions.