What does impulse control mean
How to Identify and Treat
Impulse control issues refer to the difficulty some people have in stopping themselves from engaging in certain behaviors. Common examples include:
- gambling
- stealing
- aggressive behavior toward others
A lack of impulse control may be associated with certain neurological disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
It may also be related to an intersecting group of conditions known as impulse control disorders (ICDs).
Such disorders can have a profoundly negative effect on quality of life, but there are strategies and medical treatments that can help.
Impulse control issues can vary from person to person, but a common theme is that the impulses are considered extreme and are difficult to control.
Most symptoms begin during adolescence, but it’s also possible for ICDs to not show up until adulthood.
Some of the most common symptoms seen in all age groups include:
- lying
- stealing, or kleptomania
- destroying property
- displaying explosive anger
- having sudden outbursts, both physical and verbal
- harming other people and animals
- pulling one’s own head hair, brows, and lashes, or trichotillomania
- eating compulsively or overeating
Symptoms in adults
Adults with impulse control behaviors might also have behaviors like:
- uncontrolled gambling
- compulsive shopping
- intentionally setting fires, or pyromania
- internet addiction or out-of-control usage
- hypersexuality
Symptoms in children
Children with impulse control issues may also have more problems at school, both socially and academically.
They may be at a higher risk of having classroom outbursts, failing to get their schoolwork done, and fighting with their peers.
While the exact cause of ICDs isn’t known, it’s thought that impulse control issues are related to chemical changes in the frontal lobe of the brain. These changes involve dopamine in particular.
The frontal lobe is known for controlling impulses. If there are changes in it, you may be at risk for impulse control issues.
ICDs may also be related to a group of what the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) calls disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders. Examples of these disorders include:
- Conduct disorder. People with this disorder exhibit anger and aggression that can pose a danger to other people, animals, and property.
- Intermittent explosive disorder. This disorder causes angry and aggressive outbursts at home, school, and work.
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
A person with ODD may become easily angered, defiant, and argumentative, while also displaying vindictive behaviors.
Impulse control issues may also be seen alongside the following conditions:
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- bipolar disorder
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
- substance abuse
- Tourette syndrome
ICDs are more prominent in males. Other risk factors include:
- a history of abuse
- poor treatment from parents during childhood
- parents with substance misuse issues
While treatment is crucial in managing impulse control issues, there are also ways you can cope with these issues.
Helping your child cope
If you’re a parent with a child who’s struggling with impulse control, talk to your doctor about your child’s challenges and how to help.
A referral to a psychotherapist trained to work with children may be appropriate as well.
You can also help your child by:
- modeling healthy behaviors and setting a good example
- setting limits and sticking to them
- establishing a routine so your child knows what to expect
- making sure you praise them when they exhibit good behavior
Tips for adults
Adults with impulse control issues may have difficulty controlling their behaviors in the heat of the moment. Afterward, they may feel extremely guilty and ashamed. This can lead to a cycle of anger toward others.
It’s important to talk to someone you trust about your struggles with impulse control.
Having an outlet can help you work through your behaviors while also decreasing the risk of depression, anger, and irritability.
Therapy is a central treatment for ICDs and impulse control associated with other underlying conditions. Examples may include:
- group therapy for adults
- play therapy for children
- individual psychotherapy in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or other type of talk therapy
- family therapy or couples therapy
Your doctor may also prescribe antidepressants or mood stabilizers to help balance out the chemicals in your brain.
There are numerous options, and it may take time to determine which medication and which dosage work best for you.
Treating any existing mental health or neurological conditions may also help improve symptoms of poor impulse control.
If you have Parkinson’s disease, your doctor may offer a Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease to try to identify these behaviors, if they develop.
It’s important to contact your doctor right away if you suspect you or your child is displaying any signs of impulse control issues. The sooner you seek help, the better the outcome is likely to be.
An immediate evaluation is necessary for any issues with school, work, or the law that may arise from acting out on impulses.
If you feel you can’t control your impulsive behaviors, and they’re negatively affecting your life and relationships, reach out for help.
Call your child’s doctor right away if they’re harming or acting aggressively toward people or animals.
To better assess impulse control issues, your doctor will ask about your or your child’s symptoms, as well as the intensity and frequency of the outbursts.
They might also recommend a psychological evaluation to determine any underlying mental health conditions that could be contributing to the behavior.
If you have an existing neurological disorder, contact your doctor if you’re experiencing new symptoms or a lack of improvement in impulse control. They may need to make adjustments to your current treatment plan.
Impulse control issues are quite complex and can be hard to prevent and manage.
However, working with your doctor and getting a better understanding of the signs and risk factors involved can help you find the right treatment to improve your quality of life.
Since ICDs tend to develop during childhood, you shouldn’t wait to talk to your doctor.
It can be difficult to talk about a lack of impulse control, but getting help can be beneficial in reducing negative effects on school, work, and relationships.
How to Identify and Treat
Impulse control issues refer to the difficulty some people have in stopping themselves from engaging in certain behaviors. Common examples include:
- gambling
- stealing
- aggressive behavior toward others
A lack of impulse control may be associated with certain neurological disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
It may also be related to an intersecting group of conditions known as impulse control disorders (ICDs).
Such disorders can have a profoundly negative effect on quality of life, but there are strategies and medical treatments that can help.
Impulse control issues can vary from person to person, but a common theme is that the impulses are considered extreme and are difficult to control.
Most symptoms begin during adolescence, but it’s also possible for ICDs to not show up until adulthood.
Some of the most common symptoms seen in all age groups include:
- lying
- stealing, or kleptomania
- destroying property
- displaying explosive anger
- having sudden outbursts, both physical and verbal
- harming other people and animals
- pulling one’s own head hair, brows, and lashes, or trichotillomania
- eating compulsively or overeating
Symptoms in adults
Adults with impulse control behaviors might also have behaviors like:
- uncontrolled gambling
- compulsive shopping
- intentionally setting fires, or pyromania
- internet addiction or out-of-control usage
- hypersexuality
Symptoms in children
Children with impulse control issues may also have more problems at school, both socially and academically.
They may be at a higher risk of having classroom outbursts, failing to get their schoolwork done, and fighting with their peers.
While the exact cause of ICDs isn’t known, it’s thought that impulse control issues are related to chemical changes in the frontal lobe of the brain. These changes involve dopamine in particular.
The frontal lobe is known for controlling impulses. If there are changes in it, you may be at risk for impulse control issues.
ICDs may also be related to a group of what the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) calls disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders. Examples of these disorders include:
- Conduct disorder. People with this disorder exhibit anger and aggression that can pose a danger to other people, animals, and property.
- Intermittent explosive disorder. This disorder causes angry and aggressive outbursts at home, school, and work.
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
A person with ODD may become easily angered, defiant, and argumentative, while also displaying vindictive behaviors.
Impulse control issues may also be seen alongside the following conditions:
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- bipolar disorder
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
- substance abuse
- Tourette syndrome
ICDs are more prominent in males. Other risk factors include:
- a history of abuse
- poor treatment from parents during childhood
- parents with substance misuse issues
While treatment is crucial in managing impulse control issues, there are also ways you can cope with these issues.
Helping your child cope
If you’re a parent with a child who’s struggling with impulse control, talk to your doctor about your child’s challenges and how to help.
A referral to a psychotherapist trained to work with children may be appropriate as well.
You can also help your child by:
- modeling healthy behaviors and setting a good example
- setting limits and sticking to them
- establishing a routine so your child knows what to expect
- making sure you praise them when they exhibit good behavior
Tips for adults
Adults with impulse control issues may have difficulty controlling their behaviors in the heat of the moment. Afterward, they may feel extremely guilty and ashamed. This can lead to a cycle of anger toward others.
It’s important to talk to someone you trust about your struggles with impulse control.
Having an outlet can help you work through your behaviors while also decreasing the risk of depression, anger, and irritability.
Therapy is a central treatment for ICDs and impulse control associated with other underlying conditions. Examples may include:
- group therapy for adults
- play therapy for children
- individual psychotherapy in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or other type of talk therapy
- family therapy or couples therapy
Your doctor may also prescribe antidepressants or mood stabilizers to help balance out the chemicals in your brain.
There are numerous options, and it may take time to determine which medication and which dosage work best for you.
Treating any existing mental health or neurological conditions may also help improve symptoms of poor impulse control.
If you have Parkinson’s disease, your doctor may offer a Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease to try to identify these behaviors, if they develop.
It’s important to contact your doctor right away if you suspect you or your child is displaying any signs of impulse control issues. The sooner you seek help, the better the outcome is likely to be.
An immediate evaluation is necessary for any issues with school, work, or the law that may arise from acting out on impulses.
If you feel you can’t control your impulsive behaviors, and they’re negatively affecting your life and relationships, reach out for help.
Call your child’s doctor right away if they’re harming or acting aggressively toward people or animals.
To better assess impulse control issues, your doctor will ask about your or your child’s symptoms, as well as the intensity and frequency of the outbursts.
They might also recommend a psychological evaluation to determine any underlying mental health conditions that could be contributing to the behavior.
If you have an existing neurological disorder, contact your doctor if you’re experiencing new symptoms or a lack of improvement in impulse control. They may need to make adjustments to your current treatment plan.
Impulse control issues are quite complex and can be hard to prevent and manage.
However, working with your doctor and getting a better understanding of the signs and risk factors involved can help you find the right treatment to improve your quality of life.
Since ICDs tend to develop during childhood, you shouldn’t wait to talk to your doctor.
It can be difficult to talk about a lack of impulse control, but getting help can be beneficial in reducing negative effects on school, work, and relationships.
| We all know dogs that jump on people, push them on the way to the exit, hurriedly jump into the car and jump out of it (or out of the cage) or run up the stairs -way down. Dogs can be impatient and pushy. The smaller they are, the easier it is for the owners to accept such energy emissions. A five-pound Chihuahua jumping on us at the entrance to the house certainly does not cause such inconvenience as a hundred and fifty-pound Great Dane or a seventy-pound Labrador. But regardless of the weight, size and strength of the dog, there are situations where annoying dogs can hurt themselves. Rushing outside can be disastrous if there is a busy street nearby. Is this just a character trait that we have to come to terms with? Will dogs calm down when they grow up, or can we effectively train them in alternative behaviors? Dog impulse control is actually quick and easy once we understand how it works. In humans, impulsivity means the desire to act on a whim, meaning only its immediate satisfaction, and not concern for possible consequences. Impulsivity plays a key role in various disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, or drug addiction, but it is very common among children and adults in all walks of life. We sometimes buy unnecessary things just because we saw them in the store. We indulge in desserts even though we know how unhealthy that is. Research on impulsivity defines it as "ill-considered, premature, unreasonably risky and inappropriate" actions (Evenden, 1999). It's the same with dogs. Their need to go outside, get out of the cage or catch the ball often overrides any sense of self-preservation, comfort - for both dogs and people nearby. Impulsivity can result from a decrease in serotonin in the brain (O'Hare, 2007, Panksepp, 2012), so when dealing with impulsivity, it is always good to take steps to increase serotonin levels. Dogs usually jump on their owners, move them to the side and step on their feet, not paying attention to it. When a dog wants something, he wants it NOW! But just as we teach our unintelligent children, who also show weakness and succumb to temptations, so we can teach Rex and Sadie that patience, calmness and politeness are more effective than jumping, pushing, stomping and growling in order to get what they want. The art of self-control should, as with children, be at the top of your priority list for the good of your dog and those around you. Impulse control, or self-control, is useful in almost any situation, from waiting for the owner to fasten the leash before a walk (instead of jumping around it), to patiently waiting for a bowl of food, a ball toss, or the owner's attention. By applying these principles to specific situations, dogs learn behavior patterns and habits that can be generalized to help dogs stay calm and controlled in all situations: Determine what the dog wants. Impulse control (or self-control) can be one of the most important concepts in training any dog. |
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Changes in the diet are recommended, as well as an increase in activity (walks and games). However, in many cases, dogs have simply never been taught to behave politely and correctly. 
This is the reward. Depending on the situation, the dog may want: to go outside, your attention, food, toys, or play with another dog. 
It will not be difficult for a dog to realize that the leash is fastened only when he is sitting still! 
When we decide to work on a certain behavior, no matter how tired or ready we are, we need to follow the training plan with the confidence that our efforts will pay off. 
Unfortunately, our natural tendencies to deal with impulsivity often get in the way of effective learning. We try to punish the behavior, we often bring confusion and chaos into the situation, preventing the dog from calming down. Instead, you can simply deny an out-of-control dog what he wants and wait for calm and polite behavior - and the difference will be huge. Dogs become calmer, more focused, and generally easier to manage. Clarity, patience and perseverance are the key elements of success. Pulse control. impulse control. impulse control. (Third lesson for the puppy.) - Bad dogs
Wait a minute! Like this? After all, at the last lesson for Zip, everything was so poetic. Did I say that learning skills in the first stage does not matter, and now suddenly you need to concentrate on one thing? That sounds... tough! How did it happen? What, did Marge give up positive reinforcement, bonding, and positive experiences for the puppy?
Of course not! Marge trains the puppy for impulse control so that both sides win in the end.
With the right training in impulse control (including through games such as Quit It, Zen, or It's Your Choice), the dog learns that if he controls himself in the presence of the reward he wants, he can get an even more valuable reward. .
“Controlling an animal is not my job. It is his job to control himself. My task is to put the dog in a situation where he will understand as quickly as possible what I want.”
This exercise is called "Zen" because it teaches the dog to leave things alone in order to get them. This is just another lesson in Zip's many "fun activities".
Puppy loves to sit!
For a puppy that hasn't been specifically taught the "sit" command, Zip sits quite often. How did it happen? While Marge did not give specific lessons on the "sit" command, she did teach the puppy to sit, reinforcing the behavior when the puppy offered him. As Marge would say, we develop behavior by reinforcing it, so Zip began to sit more often.
When Zip wants to be let out of the playpen, he barks at first, but then realizes that it doesn't work, and so the puppy sits down, waiting for the reward (you can see this in the video). If you can’t jump out of the door, then you need to offer shrinkage again. Behaviors that were often reinforced in the past begin to fill in the gaps. I love watching puppies try out puzzles like this.
A great benefit of working with positive reinforcement is the ability to create a default behavior by reinforcing it often. Initially, when teaching impulse control, we reinforce any behavior other than moving towards the desired object or goal. But very soon, the coach can choose from several behaviors that have already been reinforced, the most desirable. You may notice that Marge builds eye contact and learns to focus on her in all situations, as well as teaches shrinkage.
By the way, Marge hasn't taught the "sit" command yet on purpose, also because she wanted to teach Zip to sit on her front paws, but she hadn't started yet.
Zip is 10 weeks old today. The hostess still has a lot of time.
What exactly do they train?
So what is Marge showing us in Lesson 3? The puppy learns to deal with impulses in the following ways:
- Wait for permission to grab the toy. Get permission for making eye contact with Marge.
- Keep a distance from the hand with food (puppy level). Get food for looking at Marge.
- Be quiet in the arena when the owner is approaching.
- Sit still when the leash is put on (look, she teaches the puppy to sit, but she still doesn't use the command!)
- Wait to exit the door. Get permission for eye contact.
- Focus on Marge after they exit the door together.
The puppy not only learns to control his impulses, he learns to look at Marge when he wants something. Focusing on the handler is an important part of impulse control. And Marge has been teaching this since day one.
Using positive reinforcement to teach your dog NOT to do something
Many of us started training because of our own dog's behavior problems.
