Why Having the Courage to Defy Makes us Happier (with Dr Sunita Sah)

In this episode of "The Happiness Lab," Dr. Laurie Santos interviews Dr. Sunita Sah, an organizational psychologist and author of "Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes," about the psychology of defiance and compliance. They discuss the personal and societal costs of excessive compliance, the concept of "insinuation anxiety," and how it prevents people from speaking up. Sah introduces the idea of "conscious compliance" and a "defiance compass" with questions to guide decisions on when to defy, emphasizing the importance of aligning actions with values and considering the costs of both saying yes and no. She shares a personal story of her mother's defiance against racism and highlights the importance of modeling defiance for future generations.