Impulsive Behaviour

Impulsive Behaviour

Introduction

The most important property of humankind is the capacity to form and maintain relationships. These relationships are absolutely necessary for any of us to survive, learn, work, love and procreate. Human relationships take many forms but the most intense, most pleasurable and most painful are those relationships with family, friends and loved ones. Within this inner circle of intimate relationships, we are bonded to each other with "emotional glue" - bonded with love. Each individual's ability to form and maintain relationships using this "emotional glue" is different.

Some people seem "naturally" capable of loving. They form numerous intimate and caring relationships and, in doing so, get pleasure. Others are not so lucky. They feel no "pull" to form intimate relationships, find little pleasure in being with or close to others. They have few, if any friends and more distant, less emotional glue with family. In extreme cases an individual may have no intact emotional bond to any other person. They are self-absorbed, aloof or may even present with classic neuropsychiatric signs of being schizoid or autistic (Goldman, 1999).

The capacity and desire to form emotional relationships is related to the organization and functioning of specific parts of the human brain. Just as the brain allows us to see, smell, taste, think, talk and move, it is the organ that allows us to love or not. The systems in the human brain that allow us to form and maintain emotional relationships develop during infancy and the first years of life (Levin, 2000). Experiences during this early vulnerable period of life are critical to shaping the capacity to form intimate and emotionally healthy relationships. Empathy, caring, sharing, inhibition of aggression, capacity to love and a host of other characteristics of a healthy, happy and productive person are related to the core attachment capabilities which are formed in infancy and early childhood.

Strategies to mange impulsive behaviour in children

In normal parlance impulsive action is one that is without any forethought. For the purpose of this article though, impulsive behavior refers to a quick, unplanned action without consideration of a possible negative outcome. It also refers to inappropriate behavior in children (Goldman, 1999).

In recent years the medical fraternity has developed psychological tests that involve monitored laboratory performances to measure impulsive behavior. Obviously, these are meant for treating impulsivity in children through different tools like 'talk therapy' that many psychiatrists already use. Although psychiatrists are trained to use 'talk therapy' as a psychological tool, you too can try to control impulsive behavior in your child at home with the same tool. If you feel that your child is extremely impulsive, it is important that you first rule out any learning disability that may be forcing your child to resort to thoughtless behavior. Children with learning disabilities are prone to show their frustration by impulsive actions to take out frustration or divert or attract attention(Goldman, 1999).

It is important that you adopt a positive attitude so that you can understand the basics of ...