Teaching in Higher Ed Defy – The Power of Saying No in a World That Demands Yes
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Mar 27, 2025 
Dr. Sunita Sah, an award-winning professor at Cornell University and expert in organizational psychology, discusses the art of defiance and the importance of saying no. She emphasizes that defiance is a skill available to everyone, not just a personality trait. Through personal experiences, she illustrates the societal pressures in academia that make it hard to stand firm. The conversation encourages listeners to act in alignment with their true values, advocating for personal empowerment and authentic living in a world that often demands compliance.
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Mother's Defiance
- Dr. Sah's mother, typically compliant, surprised her by defying teenage boys harassing them.
- This showed Dr. Sah that defiance is a skill, not a personality trait, and can be practiced.
Predicting Defiance
- People are bad at predicting their behavior in hypothetical situations.
- Studies show a disconnect between intended actions and actual behavior under pressure.
Job Interview Study
- In a study, women claimed they'd reject offensive job interview questions, but in reality, they complied.
- Their reported emotion was fear, not anger, highlighting the gap between expectation and reality.
