Impulsiveness is a personality trait that many people have. When a person is impulsive, they tend to behave without thinking about the consequences of them. They do not think about what their actions can produce both for themselves and for others. They do not think if they can cause discomfort, damage or harm someone. They act following their own impulses and emotions, without analyzing anything else... they let themselves be carried away by what they feel without taking into account the reason.
It has been proven that this impulsive way of acting may have a genetic and hereditary component. In fact, there are disorders that have impulsivity among their characteristics, such as hyperactivity or bipolar disorder. People cannot postpone their desires and are carried away by what they feel at any given moment.
impulsive behavior
The word impulse means the need to do something. Impulsivity can be defined as a particular way of perceiving the world, where there is a predisposition to act uncontrollably and quickly when faced with an event, an internal or external stimulus. There is a flaw in the analytical judgment of the person which means that they do not think about the consequences of their actions.
Therefore, impulsive behavior is a tendency to act without thinking about the consequences of their actions, and these actions usually occur in reaction to some event that has caused the person to have an emotional response.
Causes
Neuroscience has discovered the way, an impulse and an idea becomes a behavior in the brain and, finally, an uncontrollable compulsion. The images indicate that some people have difficulty postpone your reward boost for a longer period of time.
Impulsive behavior is closely related to neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, which is linked to the learning process and reinforcements. There may be physiological aspects that could explain impulsive and repetitive behavior. There are receptor failures in the frontal lobe specifically in the prefrontal cortex, where executive functions are in charge of decision making and judgment.
This means that the core of the brain located in the decision-making part of the brain takes a detour and looks for the quickest way to receive a reward without much thought or work. Impulsive behavior can be explained by less active dopamine receptors in the mid-brain region, the area in charge of logical decision-making. These receptors can also explain the tendency of impulsive people to become depressed.
As with drug and gambling addiction, impulsive behavior leads to regret of the action without it being enough to stop the behavior previously.
Symptom
There are some components that differentiate impulsive behavior from other behaviors. The symptoms that can be associated with the impulse are the following:
- Inability to plan or prepare: driven by our impulses, we cannot prepare ourselves for the expected logical consequences; on the contrary, surprise becomes the main characteristic where "anything can happen".
- Under self control. There are no restrictions or self-control.
- Low perseverance. Emotion dictates the next move. Overcoming procrastination becomes very difficult.
- Search for new experiences. Driven by intense positive or negative emotions, our cognitive abilities to plan and evaluate different alternatives become distorted, leading us later to regret decisions made on the spur of the moment.
Each impulse is different and has different consequences, from eating an extra slice of cake when we shouldn't, to stealing, breaking things, and even self-mutilation. In the abyss of impulsive behavior, even our own lives or those we love can be in danger. The emotional state is key in this behavior; During the process, the brain releases emotional states that color the perception of reality, making it difficult for the person not to feel the impulse to act. The rational thought process is broken, therefore, the person cannot put their actions and consequences into perspective.
Diagnosis
Anyone can be a victim of impulsive behavior at any time in life... Although when it becomes a habit then it can be a pretty serious problem for a person who lacks the self-control necessary to function properly. If you believe that impulsive behavior has control in your life, then you will need to see a specialist for guidance. on how to lead your life and that impulsiveness does not destroy you little by little.
The specialist uses special tools, questionnaires and interviews to determine the risk of impulsive behavior and establish therapeutic measures. There are also specialized tests that can help determine how impulsive you are and help you train your mind to inhibit this impulsive behavior.
How to be less impulsive
Being less impulsive is in your hands since it is your mind that makes you more or less impulsive. If you want to stop this type of behavior, then follow these tips and you will realize how your life will begin to improve.
Take a deep breath
When you think you are going to act impulsively, stop for a moment and take 10 deep breaths. This will help your body receive the oxygen it needs to lower anxiety levels.
wait before acting
Count to 50 while breathing before doing what you have in your mind, that is, what your mind has proposed to do. This time will calm you down and help you reduce impulsive behavior.
Keep track of impulsive behaviors
Keep a calendar with your good and bad days, this helps to keep focus on the good days when you did not get carried away by impulsive behaviors. In this way, you can realize that you are able to maintain more self-control than you expect.
Ask a friend or family member to help you
Family and friends can help you keep track of these behaviors, and sometimes they can even calm you down if necessary. Trust someone to let you know when it might be out of control so they can lead the way for you.
visit a therapist
If you feel that your impulsive behaviors are affecting your social, family and/or work interactions, it is better to consult a professional. Therapists can give you tools on emotional intelligence and how to manage your impulses.