dr rebel: is there a rebel in all of us?

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today's question: is there a rebel in all of us?

“is everyone a rebel?”, or put differently: “are you born a rebel?” is one of the most frequently asked questions i get. my first response is always to look at children. they all are rebels, no exceptions. they keep asking questions (why? why? why?), are super creative (give them a cushion, a box, and a pen, and they'll create a rocket that brings them to the moon), and they'll share what's on their mind, regardless.

so, the real question should be: "why do we unlearn rebellious behaviour?" and why do some more than others? while i can write a whole book about that, basically, our society is set up for conformity, and it already starts at nursery school. ?

back to today's question, rather than asking the question 'are you a rebel?' that can only be answered with yes or no, i prefer to look at rebelliousness on a spectrum.

some people express rebelliousness more subtly, like questioning an assumption in a one-on-one conversation, while others express it more overtly, for instance, by speaking up or counter-arguing the manager in a meeting or rejecting social norms and going their own way. even individuals who are generally conformist may resist rules or norms they perceive as unjust or restrictive.

and so, yes, there is a rebel in all of us.

there are two rebel tests out there to find out your rebel type. both tests will assign you one of four rebel archetypes. but remember, few of us fit in just one box and can be characterised into a single type. while the test will show your dominant tendency, you might act differently in another context. so please also take note of the other rebel types.

the first test is from Todd Kashdan, a professor of psychology at george mason university, who also runs the well-being lab. kashdan’s test takes the perspective of insubordination.

·????? take the test

·????? read the book

the second test is developed by Francesca Gino, a professor of business administration at harvard university. gino's test assesses you on two dimensions, rebelling against external and internal resistance.

·????? take the test

·????? read the book

both tests work the same way. you consider pairs of statements and choose whether statement A or B characterises your behaviour more. kashdan's test has 15 statements, gino's 30.

you can take these tests for self-reflection, but they are also fun to do with your team and discuss the outcome to get to know your colleagues better.

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