“Reasoning does create a paradox: it leads both to more rule following and more rebelliousness. By explaining moral principles, parents encourage their children to comply voluntarily with rules that align with important values and to question rules that don’t. Good explanations enable children to develop a code of ethics that often coincides with societal expectations; when they don’t square up, children rely on the internal compass of values rather than the external compass of rules.”

American popular science author and professor of organizational psychology

Adam M. Grant is an American popular science author and professor of organizational psychology at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is known for writing about work, motivation, and how people and organizations can improve performance and make better decisions. His writing draws on organizational psychology and is aimed at a broad audience, which has made him a familiar name in contemporary popular nonfiction.