By: Emily Shwake

Is your niece or nephew a troublemaker? A back-talker? A loudmouth? That might just be a good thing…. Psychologists recently wrapped up and published the results of a forty-year study aimed at looking at characteristics in children that might predict their success as adults.

It was no surprise for the scientists to discover that students who have a high IQ, who were born to parents of a higher economic status, who were in school for longer, and/or who were more studious or responsible, performed better down the line as adults. However, the study also found that students who were rebellious or defiant at age 12 had a slightly higher income at age 52 and actually performed better in school. This supports a previous study that demonstrates that agreeableness negatively correlates with income.

Scientists are slightly baffled. They have proven that the correlation exists, but they don’t have a satisfactory or solid reason why this happens. The researchers suggest that perhaps students who are defiant may perform better in school because they are more willing to participate in class discussions or because of their inclination toward competition. And, the research team suggest these same students may earn a higher income because “they value competition more than interpersonal relations” or because they are willing to assert themselves and vocalize what they want.

While bad behavior in the classroom shouldn’t be tolerated, at least we now know that the more rebellious students will do well after that final bell.

Photo: Petro Feketa
Published: August, 4, 2015