Special Issues
Stigma and Health
This special issue is on the untoward effects of anti-stigma campaigns and interventions. Anti-stigma media campaigns and interventions can empower stigmatized groups and reshape public perceptions but may also have unintended negative effects. Anti-stigma campaigns and interventions have successfully improved acceptance across various demographics; however, adverse unintended effects such as introducing new stigmas, increasing self-stigma, or inadvertently harming the very groups they aim to support have been documented. Despite good intentions, these risks are often overlooked. Recognizing this, Stigma and Health is launching a special issue to explore, prevent, and measure the unintended consequences of anti-stigma efforts, encouraging research across diverse stigmatized populations and health-related campaigns.
Motivation Science
This special issue is on psychological reactance theory. Psychological reactance theory, introduced by Jack Brehm in 1966, explains how individuals are motivated to restore their freedom when they perceive it as threatened. Over the past five decades, psychological reactance theory has influenced multiple disciplines, including psychology and communication science. A special issue in Motivation Science aims to advance psychological reactance theory research by exploring its motivational aspects, boundary conditions, and broader outcomes beyond anger and resistance. Despite its age, psychological reactance theory remains highly relevant, with a growing body of research—over 200 peer-reviewed articles in the last decade—and frequent mentions in both academic and popular media. Its intuitive appeal, especially in discussions about public health mandates, underscores its ongoing significance in understanding human behavior.