What it is
A persistent pattern of active resistance to authority, rules, or requests — which as a presenting symptom in children is closely associated with oppositional defiant disorder and often responds to structured evidence-based support.
Research-supported
Defiant
A persistent pattern of active resistance to authority, rules, or requests — which as a presenting symptom in children is closely associated with oppositional defiant disorder and often responds to structured evidence-based support.
CategoryBehavioral
Reviewed by Internal Medical Editorial Team · Editorial Health Review
26 March 2026
At a glance
Defiant at a glance
Commonly experienced as
- Children described by others as defiant often experience themselves as simply asserting what feels fair or necessary. The mismatch between how they experience their own behaviour and how others respond to it is confusing and frustrating. Adults with persistent defiant patterns may recognise the difficulties they create while feeling unable to respond differently.
