Do we as humans naturally want to do the opposite of what were told?

Bloozcrooz · 02-12-2011, 09:38 PM

The question is simple..Are we naturally more inclined to rebel against what were told not to do? Is one gender more prone to rebellion than the other? Whats your driving force behind your acting out if so? Just to show that you can or try an establish a reputation as such? Or is that just who you are? Maybe this is stupid but just something ive often been asked. So figured it might be interesting to see what others felt about it and why. Lock it up if its no good mods.

RVCA · 02-12-2011, 09:42 PM

I doubt it. We are naturally inclined to behave in a way that best suits our purposes, desires, and goals, which may or may not align with what we are "told to do".

Bloozcrooz · 02-12-2011, 09:57 PM

Even if were told not to because of someones assumption that were incompetent anyway?

Paedantic Basterd · 02-12-2011, 10:40 PM

It doesn't make any sense to me why that would be the case.

bonesaw-orchestra · 02-12-2011, 11:00 PM

In my opinion, and from what I've learned, if I'm saying to myself "don't forget to.." or "don't step on that.." the "don't" part isn't registered. It sounds more like a demand to do that thing.. So I've forgotten things places, slipped on water puddles I told myself not to. I noticed that I behaved in a similar way with people (mostly parents/authority figures) saying "don't do drugs" and "don't stay up late," to me it might just be my brain causing a ruckus. Who knows. I might have just been mildly r-tarded at one point, but that's how a lot of **** went down.

Paedantic Basterd · 02-12-2011, 11:02 PM

I think what you are observing is a tendency for people to need to learn from their own mistakes.

Thom Yorke · 02-12-2011, 11:15 PM

I think that in most cases, no, at least not in general terms anyways. I think the main cases where you might see this is just when kids (mainly pre-teens and early teens) rebel against their parents. I remember I went through that phase of being a ****y little brat when I was like 11-12ish. Speaking personally, it was completely the establishing a reputation/peer pressure thing that was the driving force behind it. I was purposely not trying in school because that wasn't cool, I went through a rap phase, a punk phase, etc.

Also, I read an interesting stat in one of my classes this year that might pertain to this subject. In Canada, 20-24 year old males have almost 3 times the mortality rate of females. There's basically an even mortality rate at around 5 years old, then there's an upward trend reaching it's pinnacle in the early 20s, and then it swings back down, only settling at about a 3:2 ratio in the mid-40s. Many factors at play here obviously, but it's probably at least a small indicator of guys being more reckless (AKA doing what they're told not to do), especially in the teens and early 20s.

djchameleon · 02-13-2011, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonesaw-orchestra

In my opinion, and from what I've learned, if I'm saying to myself "don't forget to.." or "don't step on that.." the "don't" part isn't registered. It sounds more like a demand to do that thing.. So I've forgotten things places, slipped on water puddles I told myself not to. I noticed that I behaved in a similar way with people (mostly parents/authority figures) saying "don't do drugs" and "don't stay up late," to me it might just be my brain causing a ruckus. Who knows. I might have just been mildly r-tarded at one point, but that's how a lot of **** went down.

similar things happen to me like that also.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

I think what you are observing is a tendency for people to need to learn from their own mistakes.

I agree, that's exactly what is happening. I would rather learn from my own mistakes/experiences than just go off of the advice of someone else unless it's a very severe situation like life or death type thing.

pound_of_bacon · 02-13-2011, 01:32 AM

If you think it maybe natural iassume you do alot of things your told not to and as a result you seek axcuses to make it ok for self benifit to make you feel ok and less guilty,

its personality traits,

but its the same as seeing "WET PAINT DO NOT TOUCH" the % of people who touch ispretty high, so there is an urge to rebel and excite,

more stiulate more than others,

i do ramble on!

James.

Howard the Duck · 02-13-2011, 02:29 AM

i think it's what I've been told not to do that is the main concern

if it's reasonable i won't do it

but i've rebelled now and then (and sometimes even against the law)

02-12-2011, 09:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bloozcrooz Justifiable Idiocracy Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,244	Do we as humans naturally want to do the opposite of what were told? The question is simple..Are we naturally more inclined to rebel against what were told not to do? Is one gender more prone to rebellion than the other? Whats your driving force behind your acting out if so? Just to show that you can or try an establish a reputation as such? Or is that just who you are? Maybe this is stupid but just something ive often been asked. So figured it might be interesting to see what others felt about it and why. Lock it up if its no good mods.

02-13-2011, 01:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
pound_of_bacon Groupie Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 19	you may be the rebel If you think it maybe natural iassume you do alot of things your told not to and as a result you seek axcuses to make it ok for self benifit to make you feel ok and less guilty, its personality traits, but its the same as seeing "WET PAINT DO NOT TOUCH" the % of people who touch ispretty high, so there is an urge to rebel and excite, more stiulate more than others, i do ramble on! James.

02-13-2011, 02:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	i think it's what I've been told not to do that is the main concern if it's reasonable i won't do it but i've rebelled now and then (and sometimes even against the law) Last edited by Howard the Duck; 02-13-2011 at 03:07 AM.

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02-12-2011, 09:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
RVCA （￣ー￣） Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,270	I doubt it. We are naturally inclined to behave in a way that best suits our purposes, desires, and goals, which may or may not align with what we are "told to do".

02-12-2011, 09:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bloozcrooz Justifiable Idiocracy Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,244	Even if were told not to because of someones assumption that were incompetent anyway?

02-12-2011, 10:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	It doesn't make any sense to me why that would be the case.

02-12-2011, 11:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
bonesaw-orchestra Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 64	In my opinion, and from what I've learned, if I'm saying to myself "don't forget to.." or "don't step on that.." the "don't" part isn't registered. It sounds more like a demand to do that thing.. So I've forgotten things places, slipped on water puddles I told myself not to. I noticed that I behaved in a similar way with people (mostly parents/authority figures) saying "don't do drugs" and "don't stay up late," to me it might just be my brain causing a ruckus. Who knows. I might have just been mildly r-tarded at one point, but that's how a lot of **** went down.

02-12-2011, 11:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I think what you are observing is a tendency for people to need to learn from their own mistakes.

02-12-2011, 11:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Thom Yorke Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,848	I think that in most cases, no, at least not in general terms anyways. I think the main cases where you might see this is just when kids (mainly pre-teens and early teens) rebel against their parents. I remember I went through that phase of being a ****y little brat when I was like 11-12ish. Speaking personally, it was completely the establishing a reputation/peer pressure thing that was the driving force behind it. I was purposely not trying in school because that wasn't cool, I went through a rap phase, a punk phase, etc. Also, I read an interesting stat in one of my classes this year that might pertain to this subject. In Canada, 20-24 year old males have almost 3 times the mortality rate of females. There's basically an even mortality rate at around 5 years old, then there's an upward trend reaching it's pinnacle in the early 20s, and then it swings back down, only settling at about a 3:2 ratio in the mid-40s. Many factors at play here obviously, but it's probably at least a small indicator of guys being more reckless (AKA doing what they're told not to do), especially in the teens and early 20s.