The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too)

Rubin presents the Rebel Tendency as the rarest of the Four Tendencies, characterized by resistance to both external and internal expectations. Rebels operate from a fundamental drive for choice, freedom, and self-expression, making decisions based on what they want to do rather than what others expect or even what they themselves have previously committed to doing. This resistance extends to all forms of control, including self-imposed schedules, habits, and routines.

The chapter reveals a central paradox of Rebel psychology: In their quest for ultimate freedom, Rebels may become controlled by their own resistance. Rubin illustrates this through examples of Rebels who make choices specifically to defy expectations, even when those choices contradict their genuine preferences or self-interest.

Rubin’s analysis acknowledges both the societal benefits and personal costs of the Rebel Tendency. Rebels serve as important voices of dissent and catalysts for social change, often pioneering unconventional paths and challenging established norms. However, their resistance to expectations can create significant interpersonal difficulties and prevent them from achieving their own goals. The author’s framework for managing Rebels—information, consequences, choice—reflects principles from behavioral psychology while respecting the Rebel’s need for autonomy. This approach involves providing factual information about situations, clearly outlining the potential consequences of different actions, and then allowing Rebels to make their own decisions without pressure or manipulation.