177 — Stop Nodding and Smiling: Here’s How to Handle Moments You’ll Regret Later with Dr. Sunita Sah

Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin

You probably grew up learning that compliance is a good thing. And you might assume you know when to break the rules — like if you're asked to do something unethical or immoral. However, research shows we often underestimate how likely we are to go with the flow or follow directions, even when those actions go against our values.

Dr. Sunita Sah is an award-winning professor at Cornell University and an expert in organizational psychology. She has spent years studying the psychological impact of compliance and defiance. She's also the author of Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands a Yes. Some of the things we discuss are:

• Examples of the consequences of being overly compliant
• How to redefine defiance for yourself
• How to cope with "insinuation anxiety"
• How to develop an action plan for defiance
• Why defiance is a skill and how it can be honed
• The societal benefits of defiance

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Links & Resources

SunitaSah.com

Defy

Follow Dr. Sunita Sah on Instagram - @drsunitasah

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Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor

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