reverseacting

Reverseacting, also written reverse-acting, is a cross-disciplinary term used to describe a response or behavior that is opposite in direction to the triggering stimulus. The exact meaning depends on the field, and there is no single universal definition.

In psychology and behavioral science, reverse acting can be used informally to refer to behaviors that counter one’s apparent feelings or impulses. In some discussions it is described as a defense mechanism similar to reaction formation, where unacceptable emotions are expressed as their opposites. It is not a formal diagnostic term and is used more as a descriptive or theoretical concept in debates about coping and personality.

In the performing arts, reverse acting describes a technique in which an actor deliberately performs the opposite emotional tone or outward reaction of what the character’s inner state would suggest. This can create tension, irony, or subtext and is sometimes used in method acting or in scenes that require ambiguity between appearance and feeling.

In engineering and controls, reverse-acting refers to devices whose output state is inverted relative to the input change. Examples include reverse-acting thermostats or switches that change a circuit’s state on a fall in a measured variable rather than a rise. Such devices require different calibration and are chosen to suit specific control objectives, safety margins, or system dynamics.

Overall, reverseacting denotes inverse or opposing responses, with concrete meaning tied to the domain—psychology, theatre, or engineering. See also reaction formation, direct-acting controls, and related terms in the respective fields.