Tobias Reynolds‐tylu
Biographic Data
| ID | 4514033 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Tobias Reynolds‐tylu |
| GIVEN NAMES | Tobias |
| FAMILY NAME | Reynolds‐tylu |
| SIGNATURE | TYLU T R |
| AFFILIATIONS | James Madison University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9248-0587 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 7 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2019 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
An Exploration of Narrative and Dynamic Norm Messages for Discouraging Vaping Among Young Adults
BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of vaping among young adults is a public health crisis. Both narratives and social norms are commonly used communication strategies for health promotion and disease prevention, providing potential means to discourage vaping. This study examined the effects of narrative and social norm messages to communicate vaping to young adults. METHODS: = 528) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions in a 2 (narrative: …
Memorable Messages About Mental Health Among International Students in the United States
This study investigated the memorable messages about mental health that international students (N = 199) received from various sources since arriving on campus in the U.S. Utilizing the memorable messages framework, we examined the types of messages (normalizing, strategizing, minimizing) they received and their association with message satisfaction, mental health stigma, and attitude toward help-seeking. The most frequently recalled messages wer…
A comparison of preemptive and postscript mitigation strategies for reducing psychological reactance to organ donation messages
The current study examined two strategies for reducing reactance to organ donation messages: (a) preemptive script, that forewarned about reactance prior to message exposure, and (b) restoration postscript, that sought to restore feelings of autonomy following message exposure. Non-donors (N = 501) were recruited for a posttest only survey experiment. Participants were randomly assigned to conditions in a 3 (preemptive script, restoration postscr…
The Role of Choice and Descriptive Norms in Attenuating Reactance to BPA Risk Messages
The current study examined behavioral recommendations to reduce Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure through the lens of psychological reactance theory. This study conceptually replicated previous work by [Reynolds-Tylus, T., Martinez Gonzalez, A., & Quick, B. L. (2019). The role of choice clustering and descriptive norms in attenuating psychological reactance to water and energy conservation messages. Environmental Communication, 13(7), 847–863. https://d…
Dynamic Norms and Vaping
Background: The prevalence of vaping among young people is a public health crisis. Social norms can contribute to the problem, but also to the solution. Objective: The current study examined young adults’ responses to anti-vaping messages that varied on two features: social norms and behavioral framing. Methods: College students (N = 270) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions in a 2 (social norm: dynamic norm, static norm) X 2 (behavio…
Leveraging Dynamic Norms to Reduce College Student Alcohol Use
Social norms are common in persuasive messaging. For norms trending in a positive direction, it may be beneficial to emphasize change (i.e. dynamic norm) rather than the status quo (i.e. static norm). To test this proposition, we examined college students’ responses to social norm messages encouraging moderate alcohol use. Undergraduates (N = 842) were randomly assigned to view a dynamic norm (“More college students drinking in moderation”), a st…
Covid-19 Beliefs Among Hispanic and Latinx Virginians
Introduction COVID-19 disproportionally affects U.S. Hispanic and Latinx individuals. Guided by the Health Belief Model, we examined COVID-19 beliefs among Hispanic and Latinx adults in Virginia. Method Respondents ( n = 414) were Hispanic and/or Latinx adults in Virginia recruited via Qualtrics panel between May and September 2021. Approximately two-thirds completed the survey in English (63.0%), and one-third completed the survey in Spanish (37…
Reducing psychological reactance to bystander intervention messages
This study compared the effectiveness of two approaches for diminishing psychological reactance in the context of bystander intervention: preemptive and postscript mitigation. Undergraduates (N = 598) completed an online survey experiment. Participants viewed a message promoting bystander intervention and were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: preemptive script, restoration postscript, or a message-only control (no pre/postscript). Co…
Young Adults’ Willingness to Engage in Climate Change Activism
Guided by the theory of normative social behavior (TNSB), the current survey examined factors associated with climate change activism in a young adult population (N = 627). Consistent with the TNSB, young adults showed greater intention to engage in consumer and conventional climate change activism if they viewed it to be common (descriptive norm) and accepted (injunctive norm) among their peers, if they perceived positive benefits of activism (o…
Revisiting the effects of an inoculation treatment on psychological reactance
Research published by Richards and Banas and Richards et al. demonstrated that an inoculation treatment given to participants prior to their exposure to a series of freedom-threatening persuasive health messages mitigates audiences’ freedom-threat perceptions, state psychological reactance, and behavioral intentions. We sought to conceptually replicate the studies by Richards and Banas and Richards et al. with a sample of ever-vapers who were eit…
An Application of Psychological Reactance Theory to College Student Voter Registration and Mobilization
The purpose of this study was to test political engagement messages (voter registration and voter mobilization) effectiveness with younger adults using psychological reactance theory as a guiding framework. Two online survey experiments using a 2 (message frame: gain- vs. loss-frame) X 2 (social norm: positive vs. negative) factorial design found that in the context of voter registration, consistent with prior research, both a loss-framed message…
Message Fatigue to Bystander Intervention Messages
Bystander intervention programs are a feature on college campuses; however, the effectiveness of these programs among certain subsets of men has recently been questioned. The current study examines college men’s resistance to bystander intervention efforts by investigating message fatigue as a theoretical explanation for how bystander intervention programs may fail among college men. Specifically, the current study examined both active (i.e., rea…
An application of deviance regulation theory to organ donation promotion
Deviance regulation theory proposes that when a behavior is seen as common, a loss-frame message should be more effective; conversely, when a behavior is seen as uncommon, a gain-frame message should be more effective. The current study tests deviance regulation theory in the context of organ donation promotion. Non-donors (N = 386) were randomly assigned to view messages in a 2 (norm: high vs. low) x 2 (frame: gain vs. loss) factorial design. De…
An Examination of Nursing Students' Knowledge About Organ Donation
BACKGROUND: Nurses play an important role in educating the public about organ donation, but only if they themselves are knowledgeable on the topic. This study examined nursing students' knowledge of common myths and misconceptions related to organ donation. METHOD: Nursing students (N = 232) completed an anonymous online survey. Eight true/false questions assessed nursing students' knowledge of organ donation. RESULTS: Overall, nursing students w…
A Comparison of Three Approaches for Measuring Negative Cognitions for Psychological Reactance
Psychological reactance, routinely operationalized as a latent construct comprised of anger and negative cognitions, represents an aversive state following a threatened or eliminated freedom. The current study sought to extend the literature by comparing three distinct measures of negative cognitions: (a) trained coder (thought-listing), (b) participant coding (thought-listing), and (c) Likert scale. Participants (N = 540) were randomly assigned …
Psychological Reactance and Persuasive Health Communication
Psychological reactance theory is a commonly relied upon framework for understanding audience members’ resistance to persuasive health messages. This review article provides an overview of reactance research in the context of persuasive health communication. The article begins with an overview of psychological reactance theory. The major concepts of the theory are discussed, as well as recent developments by communication researchers in measuring…
The Role of Choice Clustering and Descriptive Norms in Attenuating Psychological Reactance to Water and Energy Conservation Messages
The current study advances the literature on environmental communication by exploring message strategies for promoting residential water and energy conservation. In doing so, this study also builds on psychological reactance theory by examining two additional antecedents to psychological reactance: choice clustering and descriptive norms. Across two samples, participants (N = 857) were randomly assigned to view water and energy conservation print…
An Internal Replication Examining the Role of Issue Involvement, Relevance, and Additional Requirements to Maintain an Established Freedom among Older Adults
The current research aimed to advance the psychological reactance theory literature by extending this framework to older adults (N = 525) age 55 or older. In doing so, this project tests two principles of reactance theory as well as exploring the relationship between reactance and a behavioral outcome. Results demonstrated that the threat of additional driver's license requirements, issue involvement, and the personal relevance of the threatened …
A Comparison of Three Approaches for Measuring Negative Cognitions for Psychological Reactance
Psychological reactance, routinely operationalized as a latent construct comprised of anger and negative cognitions, represents an aversive state following a threatened or eliminated freedom. The current study sought to extend the literature by comparing three distinct measures of negative cognitions: (a) trained coder (thought-listing), (b) participant coding (thought-listing), and (c) Likert scale. Participants (N = 540) were randomly assigned …
An Internal Replication Examining the Role of Issue Involvement, Relevance, and Additional Requirements to Maintain an Established Freedom among Older Adults
The current research aimed to advance the psychological reactance theory literature by extending this framework to older adults (N = 525) age 55 or older. In doing so, this project tests two principles of reactance theory as well as exploring the relationship between reactance and a behavioral outcome. Results demonstrated that the threat of additional driver's license requirements, issue involvement, and the personal relevance of the threatened …
Psychological Reactance and Persuasive Health Communication
Psychological reactance theory is a commonly relied upon framework for understanding audience members’ resistance to persuasive health messages. This review article provides an overview of reactance research in the context of persuasive health communication. The article begins with an overview of psychological reactance theory. The major concepts of the theory are discussed, as well as recent developments by communication researchers in measuring…
The Role of Choice Clustering and Descriptive Norms in Attenuating Psychological Reactance to Water and Energy Conservation Messages
The current study advances the literature on environmental communication by exploring message strategies for promoting residential water and energy conservation. In doing so, this study also builds on psychological reactance theory by examining two additional antecedents to psychological reactance: choice clustering and descriptive norms. Across two samples, participants (N = 857) were randomly assigned to view water and energy conservation print…
An Internal Replication Examining the Role of Issue Involvement, Relevance, and Additional Requirements to Maintain an Established Freedom among Older Adults
The current research aimed to advance the psychological reactance theory literature by extending this framework to older adults (N = 525) age 55 or older. In doing so, this project tests two principles of reactance theory as well as exploring the relationship between reactance and a behavioral outcome. Results demonstrated that the threat of additional driver's license requirements, issue involvement, and the personal relevance of the threatened …
An application of deviance regulation theory to organ donation promotion
Deviance regulation theory proposes that when a behavior is seen as common, a loss-frame message should be more effective; conversely, when a behavior is seen as uncommon, a gain-frame message should be more effective. The current study tests deviance regulation theory in the context of organ donation promotion. Non-donors (N = 386) were randomly assigned to view messages in a 2 (norm: high vs. low) x 2 (frame: gain vs. loss) factorial design. De…
An Examination of Nursing Students' Knowledge About Organ Donation
BACKGROUND: Nurses play an important role in educating the public about organ donation, but only if they themselves are knowledgeable on the topic. This study examined nursing students' knowledge of common myths and misconceptions related to organ donation. METHOD: Nursing students (N = 232) completed an anonymous online survey. Eight true/false questions assessed nursing students' knowledge of organ donation. RESULTS: Overall, nursing students w…
A Comparison of Three Approaches for Measuring Negative Cognitions for Psychological Reactance
Psychological reactance, routinely operationalized as a latent construct comprised of anger and negative cognitions, represents an aversive state following a threatened or eliminated freedom. The current study sought to extend the literature by comparing three distinct measures of negative cognitions: (a) trained coder (thought-listing), (b) participant coding (thought-listing), and (c) Likert scale. Participants (N = 540) were randomly assigned …
Message Fatigue to Bystander Intervention Messages
Bystander intervention programs are a feature on college campuses; however, the effectiveness of these programs among certain subsets of men has recently been questioned. The current study examines college men’s resistance to bystander intervention efforts by investigating message fatigue as a theoretical explanation for how bystander intervention programs may fail among college men. Specifically, the current study examined both active (i.e., rea…
Covid-19 Beliefs Among Hispanic and Latinx Virginians
Introduction COVID-19 disproportionally affects U.S. Hispanic and Latinx individuals. Guided by the Health Belief Model, we examined COVID-19 beliefs among Hispanic and Latinx adults in Virginia. Method Respondents ( n = 414) were Hispanic and/or Latinx adults in Virginia recruited via Qualtrics panel between May and September 2021. Approximately two-thirds completed the survey in English (63.0%), and one-third completed the survey in Spanish (37…
Reducing psychological reactance to bystander intervention messages
This study compared the effectiveness of two approaches for diminishing psychological reactance in the context of bystander intervention: preemptive and postscript mitigation. Undergraduates (N = 598) completed an online survey experiment. Participants viewed a message promoting bystander intervention and were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: preemptive script, restoration postscript, or a message-only control (no pre/postscript). Co…
Young Adults’ Willingness to Engage in Climate Change Activism
Guided by the theory of normative social behavior (TNSB), the current survey examined factors associated with climate change activism in a young adult population (N = 627). Consistent with the TNSB, young adults showed greater intention to engage in consumer and conventional climate change activism if they viewed it to be common (descriptive norm) and accepted (injunctive norm) among their peers, if they perceived positive benefits of activism (o…
Revisiting the effects of an inoculation treatment on psychological reactance
Research published by Richards and Banas and Richards et al. demonstrated that an inoculation treatment given to participants prior to their exposure to a series of freedom-threatening persuasive health messages mitigates audiences’ freedom-threat perceptions, state psychological reactance, and behavioral intentions. We sought to conceptually replicate the studies by Richards and Banas and Richards et al. with a sample of ever-vapers who were eit…
An Application of Psychological Reactance Theory to College Student Voter Registration and Mobilization
The purpose of this study was to test political engagement messages (voter registration and voter mobilization) effectiveness with younger adults using psychological reactance theory as a guiding framework. Two online survey experiments using a 2 (message frame: gain- vs. loss-frame) X 2 (social norm: positive vs. negative) factorial design found that in the context of voter registration, consistent with prior research, both a loss-framed message…
Dynamic Norms and Vaping
Background: The prevalence of vaping among young people is a public health crisis. Social norms can contribute to the problem, but also to the solution. Objective: The current study examined young adults’ responses to anti-vaping messages that varied on two features: social norms and behavioral framing. Methods: College students (N = 270) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions in a 2 (social norm: dynamic norm, static norm) X 2 (behavio…
Leveraging Dynamic Norms to Reduce College Student Alcohol Use
Social norms are common in persuasive messaging. For norms trending in a positive direction, it may be beneficial to emphasize change (i.e. dynamic norm) rather than the status quo (i.e. static norm). To test this proposition, we examined college students’ responses to social norm messages encouraging moderate alcohol use. Undergraduates (N = 842) were randomly assigned to view a dynamic norm (“More college students drinking in moderation”), a st…
Memorable Messages About Mental Health Among International Students in the United States
This study investigated the memorable messages about mental health that international students (N = 199) received from various sources since arriving on campus in the U.S. Utilizing the memorable messages framework, we examined the types of messages (normalizing, strategizing, minimizing) they received and their association with message satisfaction, mental health stigma, and attitude toward help-seeking. The most frequently recalled messages wer…
A comparison of preemptive and postscript mitigation strategies for reducing psychological reactance to organ donation messages
The current study examined two strategies for reducing reactance to organ donation messages: (a) preemptive script, that forewarned about reactance prior to message exposure, and (b) restoration postscript, that sought to restore feelings of autonomy following message exposure. Non-donors (N = 501) were recruited for a posttest only survey experiment. Participants were randomly assigned to conditions in a 3 (preemptive script, restoration postscr…
The Role of Choice and Descriptive Norms in Attenuating Reactance to BPA Risk Messages
The current study examined behavioral recommendations to reduce Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure through the lens of psychological reactance theory. This study conceptually replicated previous work by [Reynolds-Tylus, T., Martinez Gonzalez, A., & Quick, B. L. (2019). The role of choice clustering and descriptive norms in attenuating psychological reactance to water and energy conservation messages. Environmental Communication, 13(7), 847–863. https://d…
An Exploration of Narrative and Dynamic Norm Messages for Discouraging Vaping Among Young Adults
BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of vaping among young adults is a public health crisis. Both narratives and social norms are commonly used communication strategies for health promotion and disease prevention, providing potential means to discourage vaping. This study examined the effects of narrative and social norm messages to communicate vaping to young adults. METHODS: = 528) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions in a 2 (narrative: …
Psychology (17 works) · Social Psychology (14 works) · Reactance (11 works) · Media Influence and Health (9 works) · Behavioral Health and Interventions (8 works) · Engineering (6 works) · Political science (5 works) · Environmental Education and Sustainability (4 works) · Mathematics (4 works) · Descriptive statistics (3 works)