Defiance: quick facts
Defiance is the bold, energised feeling of resistance against authority, pressure, or constraint. It arises when a person refuses to yield to demands seen as unjust or controlling, and it is marked by a stance of…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Neutral
Emotion family / blend
Anger
Typical triggers
Being controlled, unjust rules, pressure to conform, threats to autonomy
How it's expressed
Squared shoulders, raised chin, steady stare, firm stance, set jaw
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions (Robert Plutchik) — overview; American Psychological Association — Anger. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.