The Rebel Personality

Bruce Wilson, PhD

“Those who excel in virtue have the best right of all to rebel, but then they are of all men the least inclined to do so.” – Aristotle

What does a rebel personality look like? On the surface there appears to be a deep-seated resistance to control. There also seems to be a personal drive to not be seen as compliant. Freedom is primary and conforming to the expectations of others is secondary. Social norms are definitely less significant than internalised expectations.

Attributes of the Rebel

A rebel personality will always choose what they see as right for them over any rule or perceived duty.

There is an internalised instinct to pull away from the norms of society. To be their own person and feel authentic they go their own way. They travel on the road less travelled.

Rebels tend to be more spontaneous and less into long-term planning. There is a restlessness to the way they make decisions. Rigidity is the enemy of the rebel personality. In-the-moment urges and desires are salient influences on how they feel and respond.

There is a perceived identity present in every rebel. Their actions are directly related to how they see themselves. Their biggest fear is to be confined or trapped in an acquiescent lifestyle.

Due to their uncompromising views of behaviour, rebels tend to be very creative individuals. They are over represented as innovators and entrepreneurs. Rebels comprise 18-28% entrepreneurs, which is 2-3 times more than the 8% we see in the global working population. Rebels think outside the box all the time. This mindset gives them a unique perspective that many people do not possess.

The rebel’s oppositional views may be irritating and disruptive to the status quo however it may also deliver an augmentation to growth. Rebels defy convention with a cost but also a benefit. Awareness and knowledge leaps forward, even though this may feel uncomfortable to the majority. Rebels may be seen as sinners or saints. Popular media characters such as Tony Stark (Ironman) and Aladdin (Disney’s Aladdin) are seen as prototypical rebels – creative, disruptive, and pushing the limits.

“If you live a rebellious lifestyle, then you rebel against things because they go against your ideals and the integrity of who you are as a person.” - Flea

Dealing with the Rebel

The rebel’s personality tends to be even more consistently inconsistent than average. They may act one way on Monday and change to be completely the opposite on Tuesday. How do you deal with such diversity?

To deal with the rebel’s personality one must be adaptable, flexible, and comfortable with instability. When dealing with the rebel, remember that nothing is ever quite good enough so the call for improvements will be constant.

The rebel may also be perfectionistic and require constant reinforcement that things are moving in the ‘right’ direction. Hypervigilance may also be a viable condition in the rebel’s personality.

The rebel may need to be provided with a continuous set of tasks and opportunities to create, change, or disrupt current processes. The challenge for the rebel’s personality is not having a challenge.

Boredom and ennui may be just below the surface at all times. The rebel is a powder keg with an insatiable need for productive action. When this is supplied, they are in their element. When absent, restlessness and dissatisfaction become problematic. Rebels are always looking to set out on their own.

The Respected Rebel

When rebels gain the respect of others, they demonstrate some excellent qualities. They live by their values, which means they know where they stand. It does not mean we know where they stand.

Rebels also exude confidence and passion. They have a presence that is undeniable. This may be why they can usually have a following should they choose to.

Rebels can foresee what is coming down the line. They are prognosticators. When they speak out loud people tend to listen. They become influencers not necessarily by choice but by example. Rebels ask the questions others are not asking. They want to know alternative solutions to current practice. This sets the stage for their innovative thinking.

“Some comics really thrive on being disrespectful, especially toward women, and it's somehow understood as edgy, but I'm the opposite. I've never liked curse words for that reason.” - Bryan Callen

The Disrespectful Rebel

The rebel that operates from disrespect is also prominent in the modern world. This rebel is verbally disrespectful. They belittle and demean others through name-calling, sarcasm, and condescension.

The disrespectful rebel may also use non-verbal language to show a lack of any regard for others. They may roll their eyes, avoid, ignore, or stare at their phone instead of making eye contact.

Behavioural disrespect includes any actions that disregard another person's time, space, or personal boundaries. These include being consistently late, breaking promises, gossiping, or invading physical space.

“In order to exist, man must rebel, but rebellion must respect the limits that it discovers in itself - limits where minds meet, and in meeting, begin to exist.”
Albert Camus

Psychological Implications

One tendency of all rebellion is skirting the rules. When this tendency is about positive change the disruption can lead to innovation and progress.

However, when skirting the rules leads to disruptive behaviours there may be a subsequent threat to stability. When travelling outside the bounds of society there may be legal ramifications. The rebel is walking a tightrope between success and danger.

There are three ways in which the rebel impulse may become perverse: One- The Adversaries form a negative identity and always position themselves against others; Two-The Pleasers deficient in the power to say “no” follow the path of least resistance; and Three-The incurable Idealists prolong the dream of endless possibilities and live without commitment (1).

All these permutations are possible with the rebel personality. These three diverse and perverse styles may even operate alternatively depending on the situational context at hand.

The concept of stability continues to resurface with any rebellious behaviour. At what point does the rebellion serve its purpose? And ultimately, when is it appropriate for stability to be returned? Continued rebellious behaviour has to have a point of diminishing returns to avoid falling into chaos.

References

1-Keen, S. (1983). The Passionate Life: Stages of Loving. Harper Collins Publishers

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