IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v225y2026ics0040162525005517.html

Integrating human support with algorithmic control: Psychological reactance in platform work

Author

Listed:
  • Hu, Peng
  • Wang, Xuru
  • Wang, Jinqiang

Abstract

Algorithmic control has become a central feature of platform work, yet existing research primarily treats platform governance as an impersonal form of technological control. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study advances a co-managed human–algorithm governance perspective that conceptualizes workers' reactions as jointly shaped by algorithmic control and human support. We decompose workers' psychological reactance into cognitive and emotional forms and specify their distinct motivational antecedents. Our findings from platform-based delivery workers reveal that algorithmic control disrupts workers' sense of relatedness, giving rise to emotional reactance, while competence-related mechanisms play a limited role in this setting. Importantly, supervisor support attenuates the link between diminished relatedness and emotional reactance, underscoring the compensatory function of human intervention within algorithm-mediated work. By integrating algorithmic and human elements of control and differentiating the motivational structure of reactance, this study enriches theoretical understanding of the social and technological underpinnings of worker agency in platform labor.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, Peng & Wang, Xuru & Wang, Jinqiang, 2026. "Integrating human support with algorithmic control: Psychological reactance in platform work," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:225:y:2026:i:c:s0040162525005517
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124520
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162525005517
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124520?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Francesca Bellesia & Elisa Mattarelli & Fabiola Bertolotti, 2023. "Algorithms and their Affordances: How Crowdworkers Manage Algorithmic Scores in Online Labour Markets," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(1), pages 1-37, January.
    2. Alizadeh, Armin & Hirsch, Felix & Benlian, Alexander & Wiener, Martin & Cram, W. Alec, 2023. "Perceived Algorithmic Control: Conceptualization and Scale Development," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 138128, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    3. Lindsey D. Cameron & Hatim Rahman, 2022. "Expanding the Locus of Resistance: Understanding the Co-constitution of Control and Resistance in the Gig Economy," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 33(1), pages 38-58, January.
    4. Salgado-Criado, Jesús & Mataix-Aldeanueva, Carlos & Nardini, Santiago & López-Pablos, Cecilia & Balestrini, Mara & Rosales-Torres, César Said, 2024. "How should we govern digital innovation? A venture capital perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    5. Martin Wiener & W. Alec Cram & Alexander Benlian, 2023. "Algorithmic control and gig workers: a legitimacy perspective of Uber drivers," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(3), pages 485-507, May.
    6. Basukie, Jessica & Wang, Yichuan & Li, Shuyang, 2020. "Big data governance and algorithmic management in sharing economy platforms: A case of ridesharing in emerging markets," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. McDaid, Emma & Andon, Paul & Free, Clinton, 2023. "Algorithmic management and the politics of demand: Control and resistance at Uber," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    8. Liu, Weiwei & He, Runfeng & Liu, Yuqi & Jiang, Song & Fang, Jiayi & Zhu, Xiaoyu & Wu, Liangliang & Lu, Fang, 2026. "Research on fire assessment during robot-assisted downhole rescue based on the fusion of human and artificial intelligence," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    9. Cram, W. Alec & Wiener, Martin & Tarafdar, Monideepa & Benlian, Alexander, 2022. "Examining the Impact of Algorithmic Control on Uber Drivers’ Technostress," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 130811, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    10. Anol Bhattacherjee & Christopher J. Davis & Amy J. Connolly & Neset Hikmet & Frantz Rowe & Régis Meissonier, 2018. "User response to mandatory IT use: a coping theory perspective," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 395-414, July.
    11. Sun, Weixin & Zhang, Xuantao & Li, Minghao & Wang, Yong, 2023. "Interpretable high-stakes decision support system for credit default forecasting," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    12. Won, Jongho & Lee, Daeho & Lee, Junmin, 2023. "Understanding experiences of food-delivery-platform workers under algorithmic management using topic modeling," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    13. Yang, Hui & Li, Dan & Hu, Peng, 2024. "Decoding algorithm fatigue: The role of algorithmic literacy, information cocoons, and algorithmic opacity," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    14. Zhu, Guowei & Huang, Jing & Lu, Jinfeng & Luo, Yingyu & Zhu, Tingyu, 2024. "Gig to the left, algorithms to the right: A case study of the dark sides in the gig economy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    15. Yang, Yihao & Chi, Ming & Bi, Xinhua & Xu, Yongshun, 2025. "Dark sides of algorithmic control in app-based gig work: An objectification perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    16. Pang, Hua & Qiao, Yuxin & Zhang, Kaige, 2024. "Modeling pathway linking mobile social media intensity to attitude towards electronic word-of-mouth and engagement: The significant role of social trust and perceived homophily," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    17. Paas, Leonard J. & Dolnicar, Sara & Karlsson, Logi, 2018. "Instructional Manipulation Checks: A longitudinal analysis with implications for MTurk," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 258-269.
    18. Clay M. Voorhees & Michael K. Brady & Roger Calantone & Edward Ramirez, 2016. "Discriminant validity testing in marketing: an analysis, causes for concern, and proposed remedies," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 119-134, January.
    19. Le Wang & Paul Benjamin Lowry & Xin (Robert) Luo & Han Li, 2023. "Moving Consumers from Free to Fee in Platform-Based Markets: An Empirical Study of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(1), pages 275-296, March.
    20. Benlian, Alexander & Wiener, Martin & Cram, W. Alec & Krasnova, Hanna & Maedche, Alexander & Möhlmann, Mareike & Recker, Jan & Remus, Ulrich, 2022. "Algorithmic Management: Bright and Dark Sides, Practical Implications, and Research Opportunities," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 133638, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    21. Sutherland, Will & Jarrahi, Mohammad Hossein, 2018. "The sharing economy and digital platforms: A review and research agenda," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 328-341.
    22. Wiener, Martin & Cram, W. Alec & Benlian, Alexander, 2023. "Algorithmic control and gig workers: A legitimacy perspective of Uber drivers," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 128415, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yang, Yihao & Chi, Ming & Bi, Xinhua & Xu, Yongshun, 2025. "Dark sides of algorithmic control in app-based gig work: An objectification perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    2. Xiaoxue Zhang & Dingyao Yu & Jiasi Yang, 2025. "Discovering the Dark Side of AI and Algorithmic HRM: Evidence from Negative Experiences of Employees on Online Delivery Platforms," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, December.
    3. Abbas, Antragama Ewa & Kool, Floris & Agahari, Wirawan & de Reuver, Mark, 2026. "Stimulating data marketplace adoption in manufacturing: The impact of perceived control on willingness to share data," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    4. Annabel Jünke & Frederik Möller, 2026. "Beyond stuck in the middle: Application context and role integration of automated leadership in traditional organizations," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 36(1), pages 1-25, December.
    5. Panniello, Umberto & Natalicchio, Angelo & Ardito, Lorenzo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio, 2024. "A cross-sector exploration of the barriers to customer satisfaction in the sharing economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    6. Soo Jeong Hong & Kwangjin Lee, 2025. "Assessing the economic value of reducing perceived risk in ride-hailing: Evidence from US cities," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 35(1), pages 1-24, December.
    7. Zhipeng Zhang & Runna Wang & Lu Shang & Kui Yin & Guangjian Liu & Xianxian Gui, 2025. "Injustice Provokes Psychological Resources Loss: A Dual-Pathway Model of App-worker Reactions to Customers’ Injustice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 197(4), pages 713-738, April.
    8. Murali Ramachandran & Arockiam Kulandai, 2025. "Gig Workers: A Paradigm Shift in the Indian Workforce—A Bibliometric Analysis and Future Directions," Metamorphosis: A Journal of Management Research, , vol. 24(1), pages 7-20, June.
    9. Bieri, Manuel, 2026. "Fairness in Healthcare E-Rostering: An Empirical Analysis of Antecedents and Effects," SocArXiv fs2e9_v1, Center for Open Science.
    10. Zhao, Jie & Syed, Tahir Abbas, 2026. "Making sense of algorithms: Workers' coping strategies for algorithmic management on digital platforms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    11. Kim, Yei Jin & Park, Young Soo & Park, Sung-Pil, 2026. "Enhancing data governance through transparency: An empirical study of the data trust model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    12. Meredith Dedema & Howard Rosenbaum, 2024. "Socio‐technical issues in the platform‐mediated gig economy: A systematic literature review: An Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (ARIST) paper," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 75(3), pages 344-374, March.
    13. Bunduchi, Raluca & Sitar-Tăut, Dan-Andrei & Mican, Daniel, 2025. "A legitimacy-based explanation for user acceptance of controversial technologies: The case of Generative AI," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    14. Yuanyuan Li & Zuomiao Xie & Zhangjing Tui & Donghyup Woo, 2025. "The Impact of Digital Economy on Flexible Employment: The Mediating Role of Laborer Perceptions," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(1), pages 21582440251, March.
    15. Hu, Peng & Gong, Yeming & Lu, Yaobin & Ding, Amy Wenxuan, 2023. "Speaking vs. listening? Balance conversation attributes of voice assistants for better voice marketing," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 109-127.
    16. Pal, Debdatta, 2024. "Scarcity and market design: How effective matching can promote the peer-to-peer sharing economy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    17. Ali Sunyaev & Alexander Benlian & Jella Pfeiffer & Ekaterina Jussupow & Scott Thiebes & Alexander Maedche & Joshua Gawlitza, 2025. "High-Risk Artificial Intelligence," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 67(6), pages 981-994, December.
    18. Dan Liu & Yanhong Jin & Haiyan Deng & Carl E. Pray, 2026. "Bridging and Dividing: The Dual Effects of Digital Inclusive Finance on Income Inequality in China," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 70(2), pages 556-572, April.
    19. V. I. Blanutsa, 2022. "Geographic Research of the Platform Economy: Existing and Potential Approaches," Regional Research of Russia, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 133-142, June.
    20. Chen, Yanyan & Mandler, Timo & Meyer-Waarden, Lars, 2021. "Three decades of research on loyalty programs: A literature review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 179-197.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:225:y:2026:i:c:s0040162525005517. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.