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

Bloozcrooz · 02-13-2011, 12:07 PM

Yeah the wet paint do not touch was a great example...Kind of like in an argument and or just regular discussion of something. Then someone telling you to shut your mouth. The natural reaction is to not for most. Or maybe something work wise your superior says not to do but you know your way is better...I think maybe for some its just the lack of ever growing up..like in my case. I heard in a song one time the line said.."all alone in a room somewhere with a button that says danger do not touch!...Twice a day id mash it down and you could watch me self destruct"

**Janszoon** · 02-13-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boozinbloozin

Yeah the wet paint do not touch was a great example...Kind of like in an argument and or just regular discussion of something. Then someone telling you to shut your mouth.

To me those are two very different examples. I'm not going to touch wet paint because I don't want paint on my hand. The person who put that sign there is being helpful to me. In contrast, a person who, during an argument, tells me to shut my mouth is not trying to be helpful at all, they are trying to be controlling. Something like that is bound to piss me off and, yes, will lead me to do the opposite of what I'm told to do.

Bloozcrooz · 02-13-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

To me those are two very different examples. I'm not going to touch wet paint because I don't want paint on my hand. The person who put that sign there is being helpful to me. In contrast, a person who, during an argument, tells me to shut my mouth is not trying to be helpful at all, they are trying to be controlling. Something like that is bound to piss me off and, yes, will lead me to do the opposite of what I'm told to do.

See I would touch the wet paint just because it says "Do not touch" Almost like the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden scenario. (Just an example dont want to go the religion beleifs/disbeleifs route) For some it seems a lot of things are only fun because they are frowned upon. The second they are approved it loses its appeal. So if someone in the midst of arguing decided to reverse the roll and said.."ok say what you got to say..let me have it" Then that would counteract the urge to engage any further into the argument. Unless you suspect that was their intention all along anyways was to use the reverse treatment just to get you to shutup. Depends on how well you know the person or how good you are at reading people in general. I dont think their always has to be a defining reason for this behavior. Other than some simply chose to act in that manner simply just because. Certain situations definatley intensify the trait but its really just a dominant characteristic anyway for some. If the sign said "touch wet paint" Then no..there would be no touching of the wet paint. Of course there are different extremes and degree's of this tendicie for each individual. But do you think one gender is more prone to this kind of behavior than the other? Drawing the line of course at inflicting harm or the breaking of laws that could land you in prison.

**Janszoon** · 02-13-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boozinbloozin

See I would touch the wet paint just because it says "Do not touch" Almost like the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden scenario. (Just an example dont want to go the religion beleifs/disbeleifs route) For some it seems a lot of things are only fun because they are frowned upon. The second they are approved it loses its appeal. So if someone in the midst of arguing decided to reverse the roll and said.."ok say what you got to say..let me have it" Then that would counteract the urge to engage any further into the argument. Unless you suspect that was their intention all along anyways was to use the reverse treatment just to get you to shutup. Depends on how well you know the person or how good you are at reading people in general. I dont think their always has to be a defining reason for this behavior. Other than some simply chose to act in that manner simply just because. Certain situations definatley intensify the trait but its really just a dominant characteristic anyway for some. If the sign said "touch wet paint" Then no..there would be no touching of the wet paint. Of course there are different extremes and degree's of this tendicie for each individual. But do you think one gender is more prone to this kind of behavior than the other? Drawing the line of course at inflicting harm or the breaking of laws that could land you in prison.

Haha, wow, you'd really touch wet paint just to contradict a sign? I can't relate to that. But anyway, no, I don't think going against the grain for its own sake is more common in one gender than the other, though there's certainly a stereotype that men do it more.

djchameleon · 02-13-2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boozinbloozin

For some it seems a lot of things are only fun because they are frowned upon. The second they are approved it loses its appeal.

I agree with this, one of the reasons that I stopped drinking at bars/clubbing as much when I turned 21. It just lost it's appeal from when I was 18+ getting into 21+ places with just a wave of my "ID". So, for those three years I burned myself out pretty much and also when I was able to just walk in and be legal in there. Meh it just wasn't as appealing to me anymroe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Haha, wow, you'd really touch wet paint just to contradict a sign?

I'm totally touching that wet paint even if it's just poking it with the tip of my finger.

alli-oop · 02-13-2011, 03:07 PM

Is it natural for humans? i wouldn't say it's natural...but humans seem to be the only ones who do go against the warning. Maybe it's because we have a different intelligence than other species. A rationality that leads to curiosity and rebellious opinion.
You certainly don't see antelope signaling to it's herd "hey there's a pride of lions around the corner, DON'T GO THERE" and his buddy antelope says "aw screw that, I'm going to check it out".

**Janszoon** · 02-13-2011, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alli-oop

Is it natural for humans? i wouldn't say it's natural...but humans seem to be the only ones who do go against the warning. Maybe it's because we have a different intelligence than other species. A rationality that leads to curiosity and rebellious opinion.
You certainly don't see antelope signaling to it's herd "hey there's a pride of lions around the corner, DON'T GO THERE" and his buddy antelope says "aw screw that, I'm going to check it out".

I don't know about that. I swear my cat does things specifically because she knows she's not supposed to.

djchameleon · 02-13-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I don't know about that. I swear my cat does things specifically because she knows she's not supposed to.

your cat does those things because her learning brain goes up to the equivalent of a 2-3 yo human child. if you tell a 2 yo kid not to do something they are not supposed to do , they will do it regardless of what you say.

**Janszoon** · 02-13-2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

of course not as I stated in one of my earlier responses, if it's something that's detrimental to my health, of course I won't do it.

It meant that as more of a joke/rhetorical question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

your cat does those things because her learning brain goes up to the equivalent of a 2-3 yo human child. if you tell a 2 yo kid not to do something they are not supposed to do , they will do it regardless of what you say.

No, I think it's more than that. It's not like she just does whatever she does regardless of my reaction, she does certain things because of my reaction.

djchameleon · 02-13-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

No, I think it's more than that. It's not like she just does whatever she does regardless of my reaction, she does certain things because of my reaction.

yes, she is spiteful just like a little kid is. That's basically what I was trying to say, I may have worded it weirdly.

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02-13-2011, 12:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bloozcrooz Justifiable Idiocracy Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,244	Yeah the wet paint do not touch was a great example...Kind of like in an argument and or just regular discussion of something. Then someone telling you to shut your mouth. The natural reaction is to not for most. Or maybe something work wise your superior says not to do but you know your way is better...I think maybe for some its just the lack of ever growing up..like in my case. I heard in a song one time the line said.."all alone in a room somewhere with a button that says danger do not touch!...Twice a day id mash it down and you could watch me self destruct"

02-13-2011, 03:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
alli-oop Groupie Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: vancouver, bc Posts: 42	Is it natural for humans? i wouldn't say it's natural...but humans seem to be the only ones who do go against the warning. Maybe it's because we have a different intelligence than other species. A rationality that leads to curiosity and rebellious opinion. You certainly don't see antelope signaling to it's herd "hey there's a pride of lions around the corner, DON'T GO THERE" and his buddy antelope says "aw screw that, I'm going to check it out".