Dr. Sunita Sah started her career as a physician but then switched over to organizational psychology. At Cornell, she conducts research on influence, authority, compliance, and defiance. She is the author of Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes.
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Episode Cheatsheet
The big takeaway
Dr. Sunita Sah—a Cornell organizational psychologist and researcher—argues that defiance isn’t about being rebellious for its own sake, but about saying “no” when it matters most. This episode breaks down Dr. Sah’s research on why we comply, why it costs us so much, and actionable strategies for making defiance a healthy regular practice.
Defiance rebranded: the power of saying no in a world obsessed with yes
Key takeaways:
Defiance ≠ disobedience: Sunita Sah redefines defiance as acting in accordance with your values when pressured to do otherwise—not just as challenging authority for its own sake.
The high cost of “being good”: Habitual compliance often comes at the price of integrity, mental health, and even organizational safety.
Tune into your tension: The bodily tension you feel when faced with a tough “yes” or “no” is a vital signal that deserves to be listened to, not ignored.
Five stages of defiance: Defiance unfolds as tension, inward acknowledgment, vocalizing discomfort, communicating potential non-compliance, then taking authentic action.
6 ways to practice defiance in real life:
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