Reactance
People of all ages generally prefer to have as much freedom as possible in determining their own behavior. When individuals feel that their actions are being unfairly limited, they often attempt to restore the freedom by directly contradicting or opposing the rule or regulation that threatened their freedom. Both children and adults demonstrate behaviors that are the results of their urge to restore freedom. This reaction, termed "reactance" by psychologists, comes from an individual's desire to reestablish freedom and control of a situation.