Impulsivity is associated with undesirable, rather than desirable, outcomes.
People who experience impulsivity may make hasty decisions, get into arguments, and engage in risky behaviors.
In psychological terms, impulsive behaviors are inherently inappropriate either in terms of scale or potential risk.
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However, impulsive behaviors are not, in and of themselves, a diagnosis.
With impulsivity, the person will act out without inherently recognizing that the behavior is abnormal.
In addition to a psychological assessment, a doctor may also conduct a physical exam and order blood work.
This can help rule out medical conditions that might be contributing to or causing the symptoms.
Kids who do not learn to regulate their behavior effectively may experience greater impulsivity as a result.
Genetic Factors
In some conditions, impulsivity might be influenced by genetic factors.
Genetic mutations that impact the production ofserotoninanddopamine, theneurotransmittersassociated with mood and cognition, can contribute to increased impulsivity.
Some research has also shown that genetic errors may increase heritable impulsivity.
With borderline personality disorder, a person will have extreme emotions that they find hard to control.
With antisocial personality disorder, there will be a marked lack of emotions.
Examples of Impulsivity
Impulsivity may be experessed in a variety of ways depending on the underlying cause.
Every individual and situation is different.
Many treatments for mental health conditions have components that specifically target impulsivity.
Often, the first step is to identify the impulsive behaviors that youd like to change.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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