Stubborn children will earn higher salaries as adults, finds study
7 July 2017 5:17 PM GMT
There's nothing more formidable than a stubborn child. When they know their own mind, "no" becomes their favourite word, and you can have a difficult time getting them to do anything without getting a piercing scream in return. Unfortunately for parents, this kind of behaviour might as well be encouraged.
According to a paper published in the journal Developmental Psychology, rule breaking and general defiance of parents are two of the best predictors of earning a high income as an adult. The research followed 700 children from around the age of eight to mid-life, using data from the MAGRIP study, which began in 1968. Children between the ages of eight and 12 were assessed for personality traits like entitlement, defiance, and academic conscientiousness. They were tracked down 40 years later to see how they ended up, and it turns out that the stubborn ones became the educational over-achievers and high-earners.
The stubborn kids grow up learning how to say "no" and negotiating for what they want. Children who scored low on "agreeableness," for example, were also shown to earn more.
The authors don't provide a definite reason. The study also didn't account for life choices and career paths that affect earning potential.
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