Stubbornness

Stubbornness is a tendency to resist changing one’s opinions, beliefs, or actions in the face of new information or contrary evidence. While the term is often used pejoratively, it can also reflect persistence or commitment. In ordinary usage, stubbornness ranges from reasonable perseverance to rigid obstinacy; the boundary is context-dependent and culturally moderated. The word derives from Old English and has long been associated with firmness or obstinacy in stance.

Causes and mechanisms include cognitive biases such as confirmation bias and motivated reasoning, as well as emotional factors like threat to self-image or identity. Social dynamics, fear of losing status, and prior commitments can reinforce a reluctance to change. Stubbornness can be a stable trait in personality or a state-dependent response that fluctuates with mood, stress, or authority figures.

Consequences vary with context. Persistent rigidity can impede problem solving, learning, and adaptation, especially when presented with valid new information. It can hinder collaboration and escalate conflict, though in some cases, firm adherence to core principles can provide consistency or protect against manipulation.

Management and mitigation strategies emphasize communication and structural approaches. Techniques include active listening, validating concerns, and introducing change gradually; reframing options to reduce perceived threat; setting clear goals and deadlines; and separating the person from the idea to reduce defensiveness. In organizational settings, fostering psychological safety can help reduce counterproductive stubbornness.

See also: obstinacy, tenacity, perseverance, cognitive biases, decision-making.