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

ThePhanastasio · 02-13-2011, 04:28 PM

I think it completely has to do with the situation. I'm not going to say that (to cite an earlier example) I'm going to touch wet paint just to contradict a sign warning against touching the wet paint; I know what the outcome's going to be. Either the paint has dried, or I'm going to get paint on my fingertip. There'd be no point to contradict the sign.

If someone tells me not to do something / to do something, there are times I'm inclined to do the opposite of what they tell me. It's not really for rebellion. The way I see it, they have their reasons for wanting me / not wanting me to do something. That's fine. If it's something that doesn't appeal to me or doesn't fit what I would like to do to achieve my own personal desired outcome, I'll generally do the opposite. It's not even so much to challenge them; I just figure that if it's not something life threatening or something to me or anyone else, then I can make my own judgment on the matter and go about doing it the way I would have done without their input.

Like, if someone tells me, "Don't spend all of your money this weekend," there's a good chance that I'll still do it. The reason being that it's my money, doesn't affect the person who's telling me not to spend it in any way, and is ultimately my call. If I know that I could safely spend all of my money in a weekend without any negative effects to me or others in the future, you can bet like hell I'm going to do it.

If someone's offering me constructive criticism or anything like that, though, I really do listen and take everything they say into consideration. If it's merely a condemnation of something I'd like to do, I don't really listen so much.

djchameleon · 02-13-2011, 04:38 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.

Bloozcrooz · 02-13-2011, 04:49 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".

....thats funny..I would like to see that on discovery channel sometime.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

So if you see this:

are you compelled to take a sip?

No..nobody is gonna do that I dont think. Nobody of sound mind anyway

**Janszoon** · 02-13-2011, 04:54 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.

**Janszoon** · 02-13-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boozinbloozin

No..nobody is gonna do that I dont think. Nobody of sound mind anyway

I would assume the same thing about a wet paint sign but apparently, as I'm learning from this thread, there are still people who touch the paint.

djchameleon · 02-13-2011, 04:59 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.

**Janszoon** · 02-13-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

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.

So how is that different from people who deliberately do things they've been told not to do just because they don't like being told "no"?

Bloozcrooz · 02-13-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

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.

Spite is a quality people of all different ages seem to have. Not just a specific age group in my experience. Most adults are rather fond of this charateristic.

**Janszoon** · 02-13-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boozinbloozin

Spite is a quality people of all different ages seem to have. Not just a specific age group in my experience. Most adults are rather fond of this charateristic.

Not just people either.

alli-oop · 02-14-2011, 05:59 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.

true

I specifically told Penelope NOT to touch the curtains in here. Now they are full of torn holes. As if she can't understand English or something. She's also fluent in German. Meöwz

02-13-2011, 04:28 PM	#21 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	I think it completely has to do with the situation. I'm not going to say that (to cite an earlier example) I'm going to touch wet paint just to contradict a sign warning against touching the wet paint; I know what the outcome's going to be. Either the paint has dried, or I'm going to get paint on my fingertip. There'd be no point to contradict the sign. If someone tells me not to do something / to do something, there are times I'm inclined to do the opposite of what they tell me. It's not really for rebellion. The way I see it, they have their reasons for wanting me / not wanting me to do something. That's fine. If it's something that doesn't appeal to me or doesn't fit what I would like to do to achieve my own personal desired outcome, I'll generally do the opposite. It's not even so much to challenge them; I just figure that if it's not something life threatening or something to me or anyone else, then I can make my own judgment on the matter and go about doing it the way I would have done without their input. Like, if someone tells me, "Don't spend all of your money this weekend," there's a good chance that I'll still do it. The reason being that it's my money, doesn't affect the person who's telling me not to spend it in any way, and is ultimately my call. If I know that I could safely spend all of my money in a weekend without any negative effects to me or others in the future, you can bet like hell I'm going to do it. If someone's offering me constructive criticism or anything like that, though, I really do listen and take everything they say into consideration. If it's merely a condemnation of something I'd like to do, I don't really listen so much. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung