Intellectual Security as a Mediator Between Awareness of Threats of Citizenship Values and Psychological Reactance among a Sample of Saudi Students

Abstract

The literature has established that threat to freedom activates psychological reactance in people, and yet, there is scant evidence about the association between threat of citizenship values and psychological reactance. The current study aimed to examine the association between awareness of citizenship values threats and psychological reactance, and to investigate the mediation role of intellectual security in this relationship. A sample of 416 students (71.6% of which were females mean age = 25.3; SD = 7.11; range = 18-42) was recruited in this study. They completed the Psychological Reactance Scale, the Intellectual Security Scale and the Awareness of Threats of Citizenship Values Questionnaire as well as a set of demographic questions. To answer the main question, a path analysis was conducted using structural equation models. Findings showed that the threat of citizenship values was positively related to psychological reactance, and intellectual security negatively mediated this relationship. Conclusion: it seems that intellectual security plays an important role in mitigating the negative thoughts that people might have when they are threatened. Recommendations: Given the importance of instilling intellectual security in young people, it is recommended to educational institutions and counselors to make it a priority in their programs so that the youth grow up with cognitive tools that allow them to stay away from deviant behaviors when faced with threat.