Even five-year-olds think it’s cooler to break an unfair rule than to follow it.
PsyArXiv · March 18, 2026 · kq9ds_v2
The Takeaway
While we typically view young children as rigid rule-followers who respect authority unconditionally, this study shows they have a sophisticated sense of 'good trouble.' They are more likely to side with someone who protests an arbitrary or unfair norm than someone who maintains the status quo.
From the abstract
Across two experiments, children (N = 259, ages 4–10) evaluated protagonists who either protested unfair, arbitrary rules ("good trouble") or upheld the status quo. Study 1 demonstrates that from age 5, children prefer affiliating with rule challengers who engage in good trouble by protesting unfair, arbitrary rules and norms. Study 2 reveals that by 7-8 years, children's endorsement of breaking unfair rules is moderated by the consequences of protest, with decreasing support as the severity of