IMPULSIVE
IMPULSIVE
Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949-1992 .
Synonyms:
See what “IMPULSIVE” is in other dictionaries:
IMPULSIVE, impulsive, impulsive; impulsive, impulsive, impulsive (book). Involuntary, irresistibly caused by some impulse (in 2 meanings; physiol.). Impulsive actions. || Impetuous, acting under the influence of... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
Caused by unconscious, irresistible urges. Dictionary foreign words, included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. impulsive involuntary, caused by an impulse. 1; prone to act under the influence of a sudden impulse... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
Nervous, involuntary, impetuous Dictionary of Russian synonyms. impulsive adj., number of synonyms: 5 involuntary (15) ... Dictionary of synonyms
impulsive- oh, oh. impulsif, e adj. 1. Inclined to act under the influence of immediate impulse; gusty. About a person. ALS 1. 2. Caused by an unconscious, irresistible urge; involuntary. Impulsive action. ALS 1. Impulsivity and... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language
Impulsive- Impulsive ♦ Impulsif Unable to resist one's own impulses. For an impulsive person they are too strong, and he is too weak for them... Sponville's Philosophical Dictionary
impulsive- oh, oh; ven, vna 1) Involuntary, not performed fully consciously. Impulsive movements. Impulsive act. It was a half-conscious sigh about the brevity of human life: youth is characterized by this impulsive contraction of the heart (I. Novikov).... ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language
Adj. 1. Involuntary, sudden; reflex. 2. Caused by an impulse [impulse I 2.]. 3. Acting under the influence of an unexpected impulse, impulse [impulse I 2.]; gusty. Ephraim's explanatory dictionary. T. F. Efremova. 2000... Modern explanatory dictionary of the Russian language by Efremova
Impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, impulsive,... ... Forms of words
impulsive- active impulse; briefly the shape of the veins, in... Russian spelling dictionary
impulsive- cr.f. impulses / veins, impulses / vna, vno, vny; impulses/out… Spelling dictionary of the Russian language
Books
- My Lieutenant (gift edition), G. A. V. Traugot, Daniil Granin, We present to your attention a beautifully designed gift edition with a lasse. The composite binding is made of genuine leather, decorated with colored and gold foil and metal corners... Category: Gift editions Series: Manuscripts Publisher: Vita Nova,
- Just Me, Roberto Cavalli, Yulia Galatenko, Roberto Cavalli - an impulsive person, a true artist, creator. His fashion empire is the main confirmation of this. The provocative style of his creations fully reflects the essence of his... Category: Biographies, memoirs Publisher:
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Impulsive behavior can be of a painful nature (that is, be a manifestation of a mental disorder), in which case the help of a psychiatrist or psychotherapist is required. This article is devoted to these conditions. In addition, impulsive behavior can also be observed in mentally healthy people. The doctor’s task is to correctly identify the true causes of impulsive behavior and differentiate healthy people from people with disorders. Impulses to break or destroy something, attacks of desire for destruction are always a symptom, that is, they are a manifestation of an illness or painful condition. Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are a category that is widespread in Western scientific literature; in our country, experts use the term situational control disorder or impulsive behavior. This disorder should not be perceived as a separate disease or diagnosis. This is a term that denotes the presence of the same type of symptoms. The symptoms of this condition will be described below. These disorders (symptoms) are included in the context of general mental disorders, in which patients and their environment, as a rule, note a significant deterioration in social and professional activities, and can also entail both legal and financial difficulties. Medical research has shown that the loss or impairment of situational control over behavior, manifested by impulsive behavior, can respond well to treatment, however, few people consult a doctor with such a problem, believing that it is either a characterological feature, promiscuity, or a manifestation of whims and poor upbringing. There are various types impulsive behavior These disorders are characterized by difficulty resisting momentary urges that are excessive and/or always cause trouble for the patient and those around him. Impulsive behavior disorders are quite common among adolescents and adults, cause a significant reduction in quality of life, but are effectively treated with behavioral psychotherapy and pharmacological therapy. The purpose of this review is to provide a clinical picture of mental disorders, which may include impulsive behavior syndrome, including neurological spectrum disorders, and to review the evidence for pharmacological treatment of these disorders. Despite the degree of influence of general clinical, genetic and biological characteristics on the development of impulse control disorders, the mechanism of occurrence of these disorders is not entirely clear. Many impulse control disorders include the underlying qualities of: These features have led to the description of impulse control disorders as behavioral addictions. Some experts often consider such symptoms as compulsive behavior. Although this relationship has not yet been fully studied, there are some differences in the definition of these concepts. Impulsivity is defined as a predisposition to quickly, spontaneously react to internal or external stimuli without taking into account negative consequences. Compulsivity is defined as the performance of repetitive, compulsive actions in order to reduce or prevent anxiety, distress, danger, etc. These actions do not provide pleasure or satisfaction. These types of behavior disorders should rather be considered as opposites. Compulsivity and impulsivity, however, can occur simultaneously in the context of the same mental disorder, thereby complicating the diagnosis, understanding, and treatment of disorders of certain forms of behavior.Impulses to break or destroy something
If such behavior often manifests itself in a state of alcoholic intoxication or drug intoxication, then doctors classify these conditions as toxic encephalopathy.
Impulsivity and behavioral control disorder
Types of impulsive behavior
Main characteristics of the disorder
Impulsivity and compulsivity
In his life, every person meets people with different characters. Have you ever dealt with a person who amazed you with his inconstancy? Such people, as a rule, tend to change their minds quite quickly; they are characterized by instant mood swings.
It would seem that he was just smiling and in a great mood, when suddenly something affects his mood, and aggression and discontent appear. These people also amaze with their lightning-fast decisions. What explains this human behavior? In psychology this is called impulsivity.
Impulsivity is a feature of human character, manifested in the tendency to make decisions without thinking through the consequences. Impulsive people are guided in their behavior not by reason, but by emotions and temporary circumstances.
More often than not, such behavior entails only negative consequences. This is due to the lack of restraint, temper and harshness that such people often exhibit. In other words, we can say that impulsive actions are actions performed without taking into account the consequences, without prior thought.
Impulsive individuals are characterized by the fact that they take actions first and then consider the consequences. Such people tend to end up disappointed, which can result in them feeling remorse or making the situation even more difficult.
Varieties
It is common for every person to sometimes show impulsiveness, but for some individuals this becomes the norm. Impulsive states have several varieties and may also indicate some psychological diseases:
- Pyromania is an attraction to arson.
- Kleptomania is a craving for theft.
- Food impulsiveness – manifests itself in various interactions with food.
- Gambling addiction is a predisposition to gambling.
These are just some of the psychological conditions when the human mind cannot resist its desires. Impulsive decisions are often the result of poor self-control. The distinctive features of such people are increased activity and explosive character.
Impulsivity also varies according to the situations in which it occurs:
- Motivated - in this case it is caused by stressful situations, when even quite adequate people can show an unexpected reaction to circumstances. This has happened to everyone, and it is not a cause for concern.
- Unmotivated - when strange and unusual reactions to what is happening become the norm for this person. In this case, the abnormal behavior is not episodic and is repeated quite often, which leads to some psychological diseases.
This condition can occur in both children and adults. However, for children, psychologists do not define this as a diagnosis, since children are not always inclined to think about their decisions and take responsibility for them. But in adults this is already a deviation from accepted norms of behavior.
Sometimes teenagers induce this condition artificially, the reason for this is stubbornness and the desire to show independence. Impulsive states in adults are a psychological deviation only if they occur very often and the person himself is not capable of self-control.
Pros and cons
An impulsive state causes a negative attitude in many people. This is due to the fact that people equate the word “impulsiveness” with concepts such as irritability, unreliability, and short temper. Of course, these properties can accompany impulsive manifestations, but this condition also has its own strengths:
2. Intuition. This state also develops intuition. Each of us would be glad to have an intuitive character or to have such a person nearby. Intuition is a very strong side of character that helps us in life.
3. Explicit emotionality. Impulsive states imply a person's openness. Such individuals do not hide their emotions. This can also be considered a positive feature. The better you understand a person’s emotional state, the easier your relationship with him will be. An impulsive person will never show hidden intentions.
4. Truthfulness. This is perhaps the most important positive aspect of an impulsive state. People who are prone to impulsiveness rarely lie. Lying is more common among those who have a calm and reasonable character. With increased emotionality, it is difficult to hide the truth. Any manifestation of deceit is highly undesirable for an impulsive person, since sooner or later emotions will take over and he will express everything.
The downside of an impulsive state is that an individual’s mood often changes, and you will never understand what is controlling him at the moment and what to expect in the next moment. And since every individual strives for order and constancy, an emotional person is the cause of discomfort.
This also manifests itself in relationships: it is difficult to experience romantic feelings with such people - sometimes he loves and adores you, sometimes he gets angry because of minor misunderstandings. Since it is impossible to predict the behavior of an impulsive person, it is very problematic to adapt to him.
However, communicating with such a person also has its advantages. This is a very adventurous personality, and you can be sure that you will always receive support in unexpected decisions. Also, the open emotionality of such a person can help you learn to grasp many factors that influence his mood, and use this for your own purposes in the future.
Impulsivity cannot be good or bad. This is a state that has both positive aspects, and negative. An impulsive person must use his strengths and pay a lot of attention to working on his weak traits. Author: Lyudmila Mukhacheva
Impulsive actions can be caused by various reasons:
- emotional situation when the individual has not formed adequate reactions;
- general emotional instability of the individual;
- state of intoxication;
- habitual forms of behavior;
- psychopathic personality abnormalities.
All impulsive reactions demonstrate the individual’s personal readiness for certain actions. In conflicting emotional states, feelings and emotions suppress rational mechanisms for regulating behavior and acquire a leading regulatory function, turning into the main mechanism of impulsive actions.
Sometimes, due to a combination of sudden circumstances, a person is forced to act very quickly. The motives for actions in such situations are inaccurately called “forced motives.” In this regard, it should be borne in mind that in extreme situations the motives of a person’s actions can be collapsed, combined with a suddenly formed goal. What motivates a person defending himself from a surprise attack? IN in this case his behavior is determined not by well-thought-out motives, but by a general impulse, a readiness for self-preservation, which manifests itself in stereotypical actions of self-defense.
Often, impulsive actions are committed for “internal reasons” - because of the individual’s desire to assert himself, to ensure his superiority over others, and to give vent to accumulated negative emotions.
Impulsivity manifests itself most acutely in a state of passion, strong mental agitation, characterized by disorganization of consciousness, inhibition of all areas of the brain except the hyperdominant focus, disinhibition of extensive subcortical zones, and a sharp activation of impulsive, involuntary defensive and aggressive reactions. There are no conscious goals and motives when there is affect - the mindset to overcome the affector is triggered. Affect is associated with the inability of the individual to get out of a given acute, critical situation in a socially adapted way.
The state of affect inhibits all mental processes not related to the hyperdominant and imposes on the individual an “emergency” stereotype of behavior (flight, aggression, screaming, crying, chaotic movements, shifts in the functional and physiological state of the body). In a state of passion, the most important mechanism of activity is disrupted - selectivity in choosing a behavioral act, a person’s habitual behavior changes sharply, his life positions are deformed, and the ability to establish relationships between phenomena is disrupted. One, often distorted, idea begins to dominate in consciousness - the so-called “narrowing of consciousness” occurs (inhibition of all zones of the cerebral cortex, except those associated with the hyperdominant zone).
In actions performed in a state of passion, the goal is not specified; the action has only a general orientation. (A crime committed in a state of passion has an uncertain and indirect intent).
Stress is also a conflicting emotional state that activates impulsive reactions. The concept of “stress” (from the English stress - pressure, tension) covers a wide variety of mentally extremely stressful states caused by various extreme influences (stressors). In this case, the human psyche can be modified in the form of:
- extreme activation of motor-impulsive activity,
- development of deep inhibitory processes (stupor),
- generalization - the spread of activity over a wide area of objects, disruption of differentiation in the choice of targets.
With demobilizing stress (distress), the entire motivational sphere of the individual and his adaptive behavioral skills are deformed, the appropriateness of actions is disrupted, and speech abilities deteriorate. But in some cases, stress mobilizes the adaptive capabilities of the individual (this type of stress is called austress).
For a legal assessment of a person’s behavior under stress, it should be borne in mind that in a state of stress, a person’s consciousness may not narrow - a person may be able to mobilize his physical and mental capabilities to the maximum to overcome extreme impacts in reasonable ways.
Human behavior under both affect and stress is not completely relegated to an unconscious level. His actions to eliminate the affector or stressor, the choice of tools and methods of action, speech means preserve social conditioning. A narrowing of consciousness during affect and stress does not mean its complete disorder.
Deformation in the emotional-volitional sphere of a person occurs not only in a state of passion and stress. One of the varieties of the so-called conflict mental states is the state of frustration (from the Latin frustratio - futile expectation, frustration due to deception of expectations) - an extremely emotionally intense negative state associated with the emergence of an obstacle in achieving a goal that is significant to him, which is insurmountable for a given severity. The state of frustration manifests itself in unbearably painful, oppressive mental stress, in a feeling of despair, hopelessness, and extreme aggressiveness towards the frustrator.
Impulsivity of behavior is especially characteristic of psychopathic individuals and persons with an accentuated character, striving for immediate satisfaction of actualized needs without due consideration of circumstances, prone to instant compensatory reactions.
Impulsive crimes are the “locking” of an individual’s acute mental states to conflicting situational circumstances for a given individual, which act as a trigger for his little-conscious illegal actions. The nature of these situational circumstances allows us to judge what is criminogenic for a given individual. All impulsive criminal acts are characterized by the reduction of conscious regulatory components of behavior. In these behavioral acts, the conscious-volitional regulation of behavior is deformed - conscious decision-making, detailed programming of action are replaced by attitudinal reactions - the individual’s readiness for stereotypical actions characteristic of him in typical situations. The motives and goals of action are overlapped by a generalized emotional impulse - to cause damage to a traumatic emotional source.
However, impulsive criminal acts cannot be considered as a type of random crime. They are, as a rule, naturally determined by the personal characteristics of impulsive criminals. And this stereotyping of impulsive criminal behavior is essential for assessing the personality of the criminal and its resocialization. Impulsivity of behavior cannot be unconditionally considered as a mitigating circumstance. In many cases, it characterizes a stable socially dangerous quality of an individual, his extremely reduced social responsibility.
What is impulsivity
In his life, every person meets people with different characters. Have you ever dealt with a person who amazed you with his inconstancy? Such people, as a rule, tend to change their minds quite quickly; they are characterized by instant mood swings.
It would seem that he was just smiling and in a great mood, when suddenly something affects his mood, and aggression and discontent appear. These people also amaze with their lightning-fast decisions. What explains this human behavior? In psychology this is called impulsivity.
Impulsivity is a feature of human character, manifested in the tendency to make decisions without thinking through the consequences. Impulsive people are guided in their behavior not by reason, but by emotions and temporary circumstances.
More often than not, such behavior entails only negative consequences. This is due to the lack of restraint, temper and harshness that such people often exhibit. In other words, we can say that impulsive actions are actions performed without taking into account the consequences, without prior thought.
Some people confuse impulsiveness with decisiveness; this is a very common misconception. However, the difference between these two conditions is great. Decisive individuals are firmly confident in their decision or action, and this confidence also extends to the result of their activities.
Impulsive individuals are characterized by the fact that they take actions first and then consider the consequences. Such people tend to end up disappointed, which can result in them feeling remorse or making the situation even more difficult.
Varieties
It is common for every person to sometimes show impulsiveness, but for some individuals this becomes the norm. Impulsive states have several varieties and may also indicate some psychological diseases:
- Pyromania is an attraction to arson.
- Kleptomania is a craving for theft.
- Food impulsiveness – manifests itself in various interactions with food.
- Gambling addiction is a predisposition to gambling.
These are just some of the psychological conditions when the human mind cannot resist its desires. Impulsive decisions are often the result of poor self-control. The distinctive features of such people are increased activity and explosive character.
These are bad conversationalists: conversation with such people can be difficult and often does not have a specific topic, as they tend to quickly switch between different topics. When asking a question, they do not wait for an answer and can talk for a long time, even if they are no longer being listened to.
Impulsivity also varies according to the situations in which it occurs:
- Motivated - in this case it is caused by stressful situations, when even quite adequate people can show an unexpected reaction to circumstances. This has happened to everyone, and it is not a cause for concern.
- Unmotivated - when strange and unusual reactions to what is happening become the norm for this person. In this case, the abnormal behavior is not episodic and is repeated quite often, which leads to some psychological diseases.
This condition can occur in both children and adults. However, for children, psychologists do not define this as a diagnosis, since children are not always inclined to think about their decisions and take responsibility for them. But in adults this is already a deviation from accepted norms of behavior.
Very often, impulsive behavior can be observed in adolescents. This is understandable: various stresses at such a critical age are often the cause of unreasonable behavior. It could also be emotional excitement or overwork.
Sometimes teenagers induce this condition artificially, the reason for this is stubbornness and the desire to show independence. Impulsive states in adults are a psychological deviation only if they occur very often and the person himself is not capable of self-control.
Pros and cons
An impulsive state causes a negative attitude in many people. This is due to the fact that people equate the word “impulsiveness” with concepts such as irritability, unreliability, and short temper. Of course, these properties can accompany impulsive manifestations, but this state also has its strengths:
1. Fast decision making. It should not be confused with decisiveness, but it is the positive side of an impulsive state. Such individuals tend to adapt quickly. Usually they are indispensable in situations where circumstances change quickly and decisions need to be made, adapting to them.
2. Intuition. This state also develops intuition. Each of us would be glad to have an intuitive character or to have such a person nearby. Intuition is a very strong side of character that helps us in life.
3. Explicit emotionality. Impulsive states imply a person's openness. Such individuals do not hide their emotions. This can also be considered a positive feature. The better you understand a person’s emotional state, the easier your relationship with him will be. An impulsive person will never show hidden intentions.
4. Truthfulness. This is perhaps the most important positive aspect of an impulsive state. People who are prone to impulsiveness rarely lie. Lying is more common among those who have a calm and reasonable character. With increased emotionality, it is difficult to hide the truth. Any manifestation of deceit is highly undesirable for an impulsive person, since sooner or later emotions will take over and he will express everything.
Impulsive states have a number of advantages, as we have already understood. However, along with this, they are also associated with a number of negative aspects. These include common mistakes. When making quick decisions, a person commits rash actions, which more often leads to mistakes.
The downside of an impulsive state is that an individual’s mood often changes, and you will never understand what is controlling him at the moment and what to expect in the next moment. And since every individual strives for order and constancy, an emotional person is the cause of discomfort.
This also manifests itself in relationships: it is difficult to experience romantic feelings with such people - sometimes he loves and adores you, sometimes he gets angry because of minor misunderstandings. Since it is impossible to predict the behavior of an impulsive person, it is very problematic to adapt to him.
However, communicating with such a person also has its advantages. This is a very adventurous personality, and you can be sure that you will always receive support in unexpected decisions. Also, the open emotionality of such a person can help you learn to grasp many factors that influence his mood, and use this for your own purposes in the future.
At the same time, you should not trust him unconditionally: impulsive people tend to change their minds often and do not always keep their promises. It is worth remembering that an impulsive individual will never act as an aggressor. If you encounter an emotionally aggressive person, then most likely he is a mentally unstable person.
Impulsivity cannot be good or bad. This is a condition that has both positive and negative sides. An impulsive person must use his strengths and pay a lot of attention to working on his weak traits.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Learning to control impulsive behavior
One of the main consequences of psychotrauma (PTSD) is the loss of control over one’s impulsive behavior. People do things without thinking about the consequences.
It is clearly seen that their self-destructive actions are the result of the influence of uncontrolled impulses, and their authors then suffer from the long-term results of these actions. Their desire for immediate gratification hinders their ability to see into the future.
Behavioral economists call this phenomenon time discounting. Do you want to get a thousand dollars right now or two thousand, but in a year? What about $1,900, but in a year? Or 1500? How about 1200?
It turns out that addicted people, gamblers or smokers, prefer immediate gratification more often than many of us.
They have a distorted view of what can happen, and their vision of the future is limited to days rather than years.
Other research has shown that we have two competing systems operating in different positions of our "involuntary self": the impulsive system, which wants rewards immediately, and the control system, which regulates these impulses and decides (unconsciously) which choice is preferable. People with addictions have a stronger impulsive system than is normal.
The same applies to anyone who has problems with impulse control, and that is virtually everyone with self-destructive behavior.
Giving freedom to impulses, we allow ourselves to take time off from work, unleash our anger, yell at our children, and break our diet. Thus, it becomes clear that we must find ways to strengthen our management system and impulse control. Starting with conscious effort, with practice, we acquire new habits with greater ease, and then they become part of our “involuntary self”.
Impulse control training
- Enter a state of mindfulness and start thinking about the distant future. What will happen in a year? Do you still want to smoke, drink too much? Do you want to make stupid decisions, put yourself in danger, turn your back on others? And then blame yourself for not being able to change? You know you don't want to. When you feel this temptation, learn to combine it with the thought: “What kind of person do I want to be?”
- Cut out unnecessary noise. We are more susceptible to impulses when we are distracted by many demands or under more pressure. In these situations, if we know we have a tendency to make unwise choices, we may avoid making any decisions until all the noise has died down or we can truly focus.
- Control your anxiety. The problem of choice creates stress. And we strive to get the reward faster in order to stop the anxiety that accompanies decision making. Practicing mindfulness, intrusive thought control, deep breathing, and other anxiety management techniques can help best choice.
- Don't listen to the sirens' singing: act like Odysseus, who plugged his ears with wax to avoid temptation. Try to remember that temptation itself makes you impulsive. Get it out of your sight, out of your head, take your mind off it. Replace it with useful temptations.
- Imagine how strong you become, how proud you are of yourself. You don't have a headache in the morning. You won't do anything stupid in the evenings. You will become slimmer. You will live longer, enjoy life more, and become more attractive. Try to imagine all these changes in detail and strengthen your desire to achieve it.
- Stop. Wait five minutes and then decide whether to wait or give in to temptation. Give yourself five more minutes if needed. Or maybe five more, and so on, until the “involuntary self” passes through dangerous impulses.
Renowned neuroscientist Richard Davidson, studying older people, found that the brains of calm and balanced people showed greater activity in the prefrontal cortex (this area, we believe, is responsible for executive function in the brain), which controls the amygdala, which is responsible for emotional reactions and the release of such stress hormones like cortisol.
The amygdala is the emotional center of the brain, and if the cortex loses control of it, we begin to act under the influence of impulsive emotions. Davidson is convinced that people acquire the ability to control impulses over the years through a process of internal, unconscious training. This is how wisdom develops as we get older.
What if we did this kind of hidden training deliberately? There is plenty of research showing that focused attention determines the way our brains develop.
In one series of experiments, monkeys listened to music and simultaneously received light rhythmic blows to their fingers. Some monkeys were given a reward when they noted a change in rhythm; others got a tasty treat when they celebrated the change in music. After six weeks of practice, the “rhythm group” showed an increase in the area of the brain that regulates finger movements. In the “music group” this area has not changed at all, but the area associated with hearing has grown. Remember that all the monkeys were trained the same way: all listened to music and received rhythmic beats at the same time. The only difference was in the direction of attention. Reviewing this research, Sharon Begley* writes: “Experience, coupled with attention, leads to physical changes in structure and subsequent performance. nervous system.
Moment by moment, as we choose and sculpt changes in our consciousness, we choose what we will be like in the next moment in a very real sense, and this choice is embodied in physical fitness our material self." Directed attention determines the way our brain develops.
Focus your attention on something good to do and don't get distracted by the noise and confusion associated with the injury. Make a list of rewards or healthy activities that you can do instead of self-destructive behaviors.
This kind of focus turns out to be more than a simple distraction. Training concentration and focus changes our brain. Focus and the ability to tune out interruptions are skills that can be learned.
Each episode when our partner upsets us and we scold him makes the next quarrel more likely. The neural connections between our upset and the quarrel are activated simultaneously and linked together.
On the other hand, if we learn to take a deep breath whenever our partner upsets us, we can activate the connections between conflict and calm response.
We just need to remember that this happens whether we want it or not. And every time we do something, the likelihood of repeating this action increases. So it pays to make the best choice.
* Sharon Begley (born 1956) is a famous journalist, Yale University graduate, science popularizer, and author of popular science books. The book “How Emotions Control the Brain” (St. Petersburg: Peter, 2012), which she co-wrote with Richard Davidson, became a world bestseller.
Impulsivity: causes of impulsive behavior
“I just have to buy it, I can’t resist!” “I'm so sorry I said that…” Sound familiar? We hear such words every day and often say them ourselves. Can we automatically regulate or control our actions, words and deeds, i.e. To what extent are we able to control and resist our emotions and impulses? In this article, you will learn about what impulsivity is and what the causes and symptoms of impulsive behavior are. We will also tell you how you can assess your level of impulsivity.
Impulsivity and causes of impulsive behavior
What is impulsivity? Impulsivity is a feature of behavior and perception of the world around us, expressed in the tendency to act and react to an event, situation or internal experiences quickly and thoughtlessly under the influence of emotions or circumstances. In this case, the main symptom is an error in analytical judgment, in which the consequences of one’s actions are not assessed, which often leads to the fact that in the future the impulsive person repents of his actions.
Causes of impulsive behavior
Neuroscientists using PET (positron emission tomography) scans have discovered the pathway that an impulse or thought takes in the brain to become a repetitive compulsion, and have explained why some people find it so difficult to control the impulse that arises in exchange for a reward or long-term goal.
What are the causes of impulsive behavior? Impulsivity, or impulsive behavior, is closely related to the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical involved in learning and reward.
Researchers Idit Shalev from Yale University and Michael Sulkowski from the University of Florida explained that the physiological cause of immediate and repeated impulsive behavior is errors in the receptors of the frontal lobe, namely the prefrontal cortex, that occur when this part of the brain performs executive functions, in particular the process of organizing decision making and applying appropriate judgment. Learn how to improve executive function.
In other words, in order to receive a quick reward, a certain deviation occurs in the work of the brain nuclei responsible for analyzing and making the most appropriate situation and thoughtful decisions. Scientist Joshua Buchholz of Vanderbilt University suggested in 2009 that impulsive people have a reduced number of active dopamine receptors in an area of the midbrain associated with the ability to make logical and thoughtful decisions, which may also increase the risk of depression and impulsive behavior. Those. The smaller the number of active dopamine receptors in the midbrain region where dopamine-synthesizing neurons are located, the more dopamine is released and the greater the degree of impulsivity.
Very often, impulsive people repent of their behavior without stopping it. It often becomes repetitive and compulsive, as in the case of substance abuse, gambling, compulsive shopping, smoking, alcohol, etc.
Symptoms of Impulsivity
On the other hand, a number of researchers (Michalczuk, Bowden-Jones, Verdejo García, Clark, 2011) named four main characteristics of impulsivity:
- Inability to plan and forecast: acting under the influence of impulses, we cannot foresee the expected and logical consequences, any result is a “surprise”.
- Low level of control: another cigarette, a piece of cake, an inappropriate comment... “no brakes” and no self-control.
- Lack of persistence: procrastination, putting off uninteresting tasks. Only the search for bright and acute emotions.
- The constant search for new experiences and the need to urgently receive them, which is understood as the tendency to act under the influence of intense positive or negative emotions and states that distort the ability to make informed alternative decisions and thereby avoid constant remorse and remorse, very typical of impulsive people.
There are impulses different types and have different consequences - compare: eating an extra piece of cake and stealing something, breaking something, or harming yourself or others.
Please note that the key role in this case is played by the emotional state, while the processes discussed above that occur in the brain provoke the emergence of emotions that cloud the perception of reality, and the desire to get them at any cost becomes irresistible.
Symptoms of impulsive behavior
How is impulsivity diagnosed?
If you have this emotional condition and are suffering from its effects, not to mention that it may be associated with other serious disorders such as dementia, ADHD or Parkinson's disease, you should seek a diagnosis from a specialist to determine the severity and type of impulsive behavior and will suggest effective therapeutic measures (including psychotropic drugs), tools and special tests. In addition, you can also take CogniFit neuropsychological testing, which will be an additional help in making a diagnosis by a specialist.
Translation by Anna Inozemtseva
Celma Merola, Jaume. Bases teóricas y clinic del comportamiento impulsive. Colección digital Profesionalidad. Ed. San Juan de Dios. Barcelona (2015).
Shalev, I., & Sulkowski, M.L. (2009). Relations between distinct aspects of self-regulation to symptoms of impulsivity and compulsivity. Personality and Individual Differences, 47,84-88.
Why Are You so Impulsive? Self-regulation and symptoms of impulsivity. Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D. Don't Delay. Psychology Today, Posted Jun 23, 2009
Behavioral scientist with extensive expertise in the OD & HR fields, developing organizational effectiveness projects to challenge human potential within organizations.
Types and methods of dealing with impulsive behavior
Impulsivity in psychology is considered as a predisposition to a spontaneous, lightning-fast reaction to any external or internal stimuli without taking into account possible consequences. Within the framework of this concept, they speak of impulsive behavior, when a person acts thoughtlessly, but subsequently often repents of his actions or, conversely, further aggravates the current situation. This character trait can manifest itself both in childhood and in adulthood due to increased emotional excitability, overwork, emotional stress, as well as certain diseases.
Such qualities as impulsiveness, initiative, flexibility of behavior, and sociability are characteristic mainly of extroverts. The concept of impulsiveness can be contrasted with reflexivity - the tendency to carefully think about a problem and weigh the decisions made.
In psychology and psychiatry, impulsivity is also interpreted as a painful form of behavior in which a person commits certain actions, obeying irresistible attractions, that is, almost unconsciously. It turns out that impulsive people have a reduced level of self-control, and their actions are more of an automated nature.
Impulsive behavior and its types
Impulsivity is manifested by difficulties in resisting certain momentary impulses, which in the end almost always lead to troubles, both for the patient himself and for his immediate environment. Here are some examples of unhealthy impulsive behavior:
- kleptomania - a painful desire to steal;
- gambling addiction – pathological attraction to gambling;
- impulsive purchases - purchasing unnecessary things, preoccupation with purchases;
- pyromania - an irresistible urge to commit arson;
- impulsive sexual behavior - uncontrollable, excessive sexual activity, which can manifest itself not only in sexual promiscuity, but also voyeurism, fetishism, sexual activity and other inclinations;
- impulsive eating behavior - compulsive overeating, anorexia, bulimia, etc.
The above disorders are quite common among adults and adolescents, and lead to a significant decrease in quality of life. However, increased impulsivity is quite easily eliminated with the help of competent cognitive-behavioral psychotherapeutic work.
Impulsive behavior in childhood
Impulsivity in children is also a character trait that consists in acting on the first impulse due to the influence of any emotions or stimuli. Due to age-related underdevelopment of behavior control, this feature is often found in preschoolers and primary schoolchildren. With adequate development of the child, this form of impulsiveness can be corrected quite easily, but it is possible that as the child grows older, this behavioral feature will return again.
In adolescence, impulsivity often becomes a consequence of emotional excitability, overwork, and stress.
Most psychologists consider the impulsive behavior of young children as a normal phenomenon, since due to age and a number of other objective factors, they cannot be required to fully control their own behavior. The central nervous system is actively formed in the first few years of life, and the child begins to more or less regulate spontaneously arising impulses only by the age of eight. In fact, the lack of voluntary regulation of behavior is simply a natural age-related feature.
Revealing
Diagnosis of impulsivity is carried out by a psychologist or psychotherapist using special questionnaires and tests. A final diagnosis is made if the patient's condition meets the following criteria:
- impulsive behavior is constantly repeated, despite negative consequences;
- the patient cannot control his own behavior;
- the patient experiences a literally irresistible desire to commit an impulsive act;
- After performing an impulsive action, the patient feels satisfied.
Impulsivity is a condition that must be combated, first of all, to improve the quality of life of the patient himself. Depending on the reasons that caused impulsive behavior and the personal characteristics of the patient, an individual treatment method is selected.
Fighting methods
So, the psychotherapist always determines the most preferable method of correction strictly on an individual basis, considering many factors, including the peculiarities of the development of the patient’s nervous system. In some cases, well-chosen pharmacological therapy with the use of antidepressants and antipsychotics helps to get rid of impulsivity. Medications are prescribed in cases where impulsivity is a manifestation of a mental disorder.
Various psychotherapeutic methods also help combat impulsive behavior. The most widespread is cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, which is most effective when carried out individually, but attending group classes is also possible.
Impulsivity in childhood should also not be left to chance. And although a child’s behavior will change as he grows up, the main task of adults is to develop his ability to correctly balance his own motives and expected results. That is, the child must understand that all his actions will entail certain consequences. At the same time, it is important to develop a reward system so that the child develops the concept of “correct” behavior. Essentially, the adult guides the child in the right direction and gradually shifts responsibility for his behavior onto him. It is worth noting that the most big mistake parents is that they are trying to “train” their own child by teaching him self-control through punishment. This strategy is fundamentally wrong and can lead to the development of serious mental disorders in the child in the future.
Joint games that involve restraining impulses and taking into account the interests of other participants are of great importance in correcting impulsiveness in preschoolers and primary schoolchildren. In the future, educational activities will further contribute to the normalization of behavioral activity.
Material on correctional pedagogy on the topic:
The fifth part examines impulsive behavior in children
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IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR
Perhaps, the impulsive behavior of children, like no other, causes many criticisms and complaints from parents and educators. This behavior consists of the child’s actions, which he performs on the first impulse, under the influence of external circumstances, a strong impression, without weighing the pros and cons. The child reacts quickly and directly and often just as quickly repents of his actions.
With impulsive behavior, a child is driven primarily by the opportunity to satisfy his own desires and express an surging feeling. Naturally, a specific goal is not set, consciousness is not concentrated on the achieved result and the consequences of impulsive actions. This distinguishes impulsive behavior from decisive behavior. The latter also involves a quick reaction, but is associated with thinking about the situation and making the most appropriate and informed decisions.
A child with impulsive behavior is distinguished, first of all, by incredible motor activity and increased distractibility and inattention. He constantly makes restless movements with his hands and feet; sitting on a chair, writhing, squirming; easily distracted by extraneous stimuli; has difficulty waiting his turn during games, classes, and other situations; often answers questions without thinking; has difficulty maintaining attention when completing tasks or playing games; often moves from one unfinished action to another; cannot play quietly, calmly, interferes with the games and activities of other children; commits dangerous actions without thinking about the consequences. Often, a child with impulsive behavior begins to complete a task without listening to the instructions to the end, but after a while it turns out that he does not know what to do. Then the child either continues aimless actions or annoyingly asks what to do and how to do it. Several times during the task he changes the goal, and in some cases he may completely forget about it; does not try to somehow organize his work in order to facilitate the completion of the task; does not use the proposed tools, therefore he makes many mistakes that he does not see and does not correct.
A child with impulsive behavior is constantly on the move, no matter what he or she is doing. Each element of his movement is fast and active, but in general there are a lot of unnecessary, collateral, unnecessary and even obsessive movements. Often children with impulsive behavior have insufficiently clear spatial coordination of movements. The child does not seem to “fit” into the space (he touches objects, bumps into corners, walls). Despite the fact that such children often have “live” facial expressions, moving eyes, and rapid speech, they often find themselves outside the situation (lesson, game, communication), and after some time they “return” to it again. The effectiveness of “splashing” activity during impulsive behavior is not always of high quality and often what is started is not completed. It is also impossible to predict what he will do next. The child himself does not know this. He acts without thinking about the consequences, although he does not plan anything bad and is sincerely upset about the incident of which he becomes the culprit. Such a child easily endures punishment, does not hold a grudge, constantly quarrels with his peers and immediately makes peace. This is the noisiest child in the children's community. Children with impulsive behavior have difficulty adapting to school, do not fit well into groups, and often have various problems in relationships with peers. The maladaptive behavior of such children indicates that their regulatory mechanisms of the psyche are insufficiently formed, and, above all, self-control as the most important condition and a necessary link in the development of voluntary behavior.
In addition to the psychological basis, impulsive behavior can also have physiological reasons. In this case, it is explained by the weakness of inhibitory control on the part of the cerebral cortex, in particular, the second signaling system - speech. Speech, according to psychologists, powerful tool awareness of your behavior. A.R. Luria put forward the position that the development of voluntary action begins with the child’s ability to carry out the verbal instructions of an adult. At the same time, the child’s actions are fundamentally different from involuntary movements. Action according to instructions is a means of mastering one’s behavior mediated by a speech sign. What a child does today according to an adult’s verbal instructions, he will be able to do tomorrow in response to an order formulated in terms of his own inner speech. Children with impulsive behavior show deep inconsistency in this. Therefore, they are kind, cheerful, and sociable, causing a lot of criticism from adults, irritation from peers, and need psychological and pedagogical help.
Overcoming the impulsive behavior of children occurs gradually, through instilling in them endurance and self-control. Children are taught to think about and justify their actions, restrain their impulses, and take responsibility for their behavior. An effective means of correcting impulsive behavior in older preschoolers and younger schoolchildren is play. In particular, games with rules and long-term joint games with peers. In these games, children with impulsive behavior will be required to restrain their immediate impulses, obey the game rules, and take into account the interests of other players.
Impulsiveness. Impulses, desire for destruction
Manifestations that may accompany impulsive behavior disorders
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Impulses to break or destroy something
If such behavior often manifests itself in a state of alcoholic intoxication or drug intoxication, then doctors classify these conditions as toxic encephalopathy.
Impulse control disorders
Types of impulsive behavior
There are different types of impulsive behavior, for example:
Key Characteristics of Impulse Control Disorders
Many impulse control disorders include the underlying qualities of:
Impulsive behavior
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