Disobedient kids make more money as adults

John Johnson | Newser

(NEWSER) – Parents at wits' end over an unruly kid might take heart:

The brat will probably grow up to earn more than his well-behaving peers, a new study in Development Psychology suggests.

Researchers in Luxembourg tracked data on more than 700 people from the ages of 12 to 52 and discovered that those who defied authority as kids tended to have higher incomes as grownups, reports Quartz.

In scientist-speak: "Rule breaking and defiance of parental authority was the best non-cognitive predictor of higher income after accounting for IQ, parental socio-economic status, and educational attainment," says the study, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Researchers floated some theories on why this might be the case: Defy-authority types might be more aggressive when negotiating salary or raises, and they might thrive on competition more than their peers. Also: They might be more willing to break the law or at least engage in iffy behavior to boost their income.

The study has its limitations, including Luxembourg's small size, notes Management Today, but it "fits with other research that shows children who chafe against authority are more likely to go on to become entrepreneurs." (When a working couple has a baby, the division of labor isn't as equal as you might think.)

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