Hi Maurice -

just to go back to your original post - what about "recalcitrant"? a favourite word of mine....although now that I look up the exact meaning as given by the Cdn Oxford, it seems to be "resisting discipline or authority; obstinately disobedient" - so perhaps that's not quite what you're looking for....?

just the suggestion that popped into my head while reading your original post....I always thought it incorporated some idea of mulish reluctance, as opposed to out-and-out disobedience.