Scientific American’s Science Quickly | Nov 5, 2025: Why Defiance Can Be a Virtue

Why We Struggle to Say No—And How to Get Better at It

Why saying no is harder than it should be.

Many of us are taught from a young age that being “good” means being obedient—but that conditioning can make it hard to speak up when it counts. In this episode, Cornell University professor Sunita Sah explains how defiance can be a powerful tool for challenging injustice, asserting boundaries and reclaiming our voice.

Listen and learn more on ScientificAmerican.com