Dear Reader,

Trust you are having a swell week.

Have you ever wondered why teenagers rebel against their parents' wishes? Or why do heavy drinkers drink more when they are told to stop? Or why some people refused to wear masks during COVID-19 just because, governments mandated them? The answer lies in a fascinating psychological phenomenon that has sparked revolutions and innovations that have changed the course of history itself.

The Psychology of Defiance

In 1966, psychologist Jack W. Brehm proposed what he called "reactance theory" to define the idea that when people perceive their freedom of choice being restricted, they experience a powerful motivational state that drives them to reclaim that freedom. This often results in them doing the exact opposite of what they feel pressured to do.

In the words of Mark Twain, "There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable."

The story of the Bible begins with an episode of psychological reactance. Told to not eat of from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve develop a powerful fascination with the tree. Then there’s Romeo and Juliet, whose forbidden love became more passionate precisely because their families opposed it. This isn't simple defiance, it's just human psychology in its rawest form.

This is why the law grants even the worst criminal the right to be heard, to face one's accuser and to present a defence. When these rights are denied, reactance theory explains that the psychological pressure builds exponentially.

When Reactance Reshapes History

But what happens when reactance meets genius? What happens when a person being silenced possesses not just the will to resist, but the vision and resources to transform their psychological reactance into world-changing innovation?

History is filled with extraordinary examples of reactance exploding when met with genius. An example that comes to mind quickly is the personal computer. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs started Apple in an era when computers were tightly controlled by corporations and the military-industrial complex. Computers were clearly not for everyone. Wozniak, a phone-phreaker and tech rebel, built the first Apple computer as an act of defiance. It is called the personal computer for this very reason.

When Freedom of Speech Becomes Freedom to Innovate

The most fascinating cases in history occur when someone with extraordinary vision is wrongfully accused and then systematically silenced. When traditional channels of defence are blocked, brilliant minds don't just seek alternative platforms, they create entirely new ones to express themselves.

This brings us to a remarkable tale from 1950s Nigeria, where a visionary political leader found himself publicly accused by the colonial Governor-General on the radio. The accusation? That he was "unfaithful" for daring to criticize the colonial constitution.

As predicted by reactance theory, this threat to his freedom produced a strong motivational response. And naturally so. But when he sought airtime to defend himself on the same radio station that broadcast the accusation, he was flatly refused.

The Forbidden Fruit That Changed a Continent

But this wasn't just any man being told to shut up. This was Chief Obafemi Awolowo, someone who has no match in the history of Nigeria. At the time, he understood that true independence required more than political autonomy and that the future belonged to those who could reach the masses directly. His psychological reactance would transform into something that had never existed before in Africa.

What happened next would prove Mark Twain's observation about the charm of the forbidden. Denied access to radio, Awolowo's reactance led him to create something far more powerful, far more revolutionary than a simple radio defence could ever have been.

The Rest of the Story

We invite you to read the full story of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his extraordinary response to colonial silencing.

The SimplVest Team.

How Awolowo Built Africa’s First Television Station

Denied a request to defend himself on a radio station against accusations made against him on the same radio station, Chief Obafemi Awolowo determined to establish a broadcasting service for Western Nigeria. Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), Africa’s first television station, would give a nation and a continent its voice.

👉 Full Story here: How Awolowo Built Africa’s First Television Station

Till Saturday,

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