Impulsivity

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that has been described as "taking actions that appear poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, unduly risky, or inappropriate to the situation and that often result in undesirable consequences".

High levels of impulsivity are often associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance abuse disorder.

There are several distinct types of impulsivity, such as behavioral disinhibition, delay discounting, and reflection impulsivity. Furthermore, several other constructs or behaviors are conceptually similar to impulsivity, such as novelty seeking.

Impulsivity is typically investigated through the use of either self-report measures or through the use of behavioral tasks. These are each discussed in further detail below.