Impulsivity (or impulsiveness) is a personality trait characterized by the inclination of an individual to initiate behavior without adequate forethought as to the consequences of their actions, acting on the spur of the moment. Eysenck and Eysenck related impulsivity to risk taking, lack of planning, and making up one’s mind quickly. Impulsivity has been shown to be a major component of various neuropsychiatric disorders such as ADHD, substance abuse disorders and bipolar disorder. More on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impulsivity
Compulsive behavior is behavior which a person does compulsively—in other words, not because they want to behave that way, but because they feel they have to do so.
Mental health professionals have identified signs of compulsive behavior in various disorders such as:
- Obsessive–compulsive disorder – obsessive, distressing, intrusive thoughts and related compulsions which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.
- Drug addiction – a condition where a person takes a drug compulsively, despite potential harm to themselves, or their desire to stop. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsive_behavior
