Anti-authority describes someone who strongly dislikes being controlled, managed, or placed under someone else's direct power. People high in this trait may prefer independence over security and may be willing to give up money, status, or convenience to avoid having a boss. They often feel most comfortable when they can make their own decisions without constant oversight.

At its best, this trait can show up as independence, self-direction, resistance to unfair control, and the courage to question authority when it overreaches. At its extreme, it can become reflexive defiance, difficulty cooperating, or rejecting guidance even when someone else may genuinely know more.

A recognizable fictional example is Randle McMurphy from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He represents someone who instinctively resists being controlled, challenges institutional power, and pushes back against authority even when doing so creates serious consequences.