Reactance theory analysis of restricting product availability and intention to purchase

The information that a product is scarce, or on sale for only a limited time, threatens the freedom to purchase the product, by arousing psychological reactance and increased the motivation to purchase. It was hypothesized that information about restrictions on available quantity of a product (Hypothesis 1), and information about restrictions on available time (Hypothesis 2), would increase the intention to purchase the product. Female undergraduates (N=100) participated in a study to test these hypotheses. Participants were randomly allocated to a quantity-restriction, time-restriction, or a control condition. They were instructed to assume they were at a soft drink stand. A notice was displayed to the participants that manipulated the perception of the availability of the target product. In the quantity-restriction condition, the notice announced that there were only two bottles of soft drinks left on that day, and in the time-restriction condition, it was announced that it was the last day of drink sales. After reading the notice, participants were asked to indicate how they evaluated the product. A one-way analysis of variance and multiple comparisons revealed that the mean intent-to-purchase in the time-restriction condition only, was significantly greater than that in the control condition, which supported Hypothesis 2. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.