Impulsivity

In [[psychology]], '''impulsivity''' (or '''impulsiveness''') is a tendency to act on a [[Impulse (psychology)|whim]], displaying behavior characterized by little or no [[forethought]], reflection, or consideration of the consequences.<ref>{{cite book |last=VandenBos |first=G. R. |year=2007 |pages=470 |title=APA dictionary of psychology |url= https://archive.org/details/apadictionaryofp00vand |url-access=registration |location=Washington, DC |publisher=APA|isbn=9781591473800 }}</ref> Impulsive actions are typically "poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, unduly risky, or inappropriate to the situation that often result in undesirable consequences,"<ref name = "Daruna">{{cite book |last1=Daruna |first1=J. H. |last2=Barnes |first2=P. A. |year=1993 |chapter=A neurodevelopmental view of impulsivity |pages=[https://archive.org/details/impulsiveclientt0000unse/page/n23 23]–37 |doi=10.1037/10500-002 |editor1-first=William George |editor1-last=McCown |editor2-first=Judith L. |editor2-last=Johnson |editor3-first=Myrna B. |editor3-last=Shure |title=The Impulsive Client: Theory, Research, and Treatment |url=https://archive.org/details/impulsiveclientt0000unse |location= Washington, DC |publisher=American Psychological Association |isbn=978-1-55798-208-7}}</ref> which imperil long-term [[goal]]s and strategies for success.<ref name = "M&G10">{{cite book |last1=Madden |first1=Gregory J. |last2=Johnson |first2=Patrick S. |year=2010 |chapter=A Delay-Discounting Primer |editor1-first=Gregory Jude |editor1-last=Madden |editor2-first=Warren K. |editor2-last=Bickel |title=Impulsivity: The Behavioral and Neurological Science of Discounting |pages=11–37 |location= Washington, DC |publisher=American Psychological Association |isbn=978-1-4338-0477-9}}</ref> Impulsivity can be classified as a multifactorial [[Construct (philosophy of science) |construct]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/PL00005481 |title=Varieties of impulsivity |year=1999 |last1=Evenden |first1=J. L. |journal=Psychopharmacology |volume= 146 |issue=4 |pages=348–61 |pmid=10550486 |s2cid=5972342 }}</ref> A functional variety of impulsivity has also been suggested, which involves action without much forethought in appropriate situations that can and does result in desirable consequences. "When such actions have positive outcomes, they tend not to be seen as signs of impulsivity, but as indicators of [[boldness]], [[wiktionary:fast|quickness]], spontaneity, [[courageousness]], or unconventionality."<ref name="Daruna" /><ref name= "Dickman" /> Thus, the construct of impulsivity includes at least two independent components: first, acting without an appropriate amount of deliberation,<ref name= "Daruna"/> which may or may not be functional; and second, [[deferred gratification|choosing short-term gains over long-term ones]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rachlin |first1=Howard |year=2000 |chapter=Self-Control as an Abstraction of Environmental Feedback |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KWp-EJaEAUIC&pg=PA183 |page=183 |title=The Science of Self-Control |location=Cambridge, MA |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-00093-3}}</ref>

In [[psychology]], '''impulsivity''' (or '''impulsiveness''') is a tendency to act on a [[Impulse (psychology)|whim]], displaying behavior characterized by little or no [[forethought]], reflection, or consideration of the consequences.<ref>{{cite book |last=VandenBos |first=G. R. |year=2007 |pages=470 |title=APA dictionary of psychology |url= https://archive.org/details/apadictionaryofp00vand |url-access=registration |location=Washington, DC |publisher=APA|isbn=9781591473800 }}</ref> Impulsive actions are typically "poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, unduly risky, or inappropriate to the situation that often result in undesirable consequences,"<ref name = "Daruna">{{cite book |last1=Daruna |first1=J. H. |last2=Barnes |first2=P. A. |year=1993 |chapter=A neurodevelopmental view of impulsivity |pages=[https://archive.org/details/impulsiveclientt0000unse/page/n23 23]–37 |doi=10.1037/10500-002 |editor1-first=William George |editor1-last=McCown |editor2-first=Judith L. |editor2-last=Johnson |editor3-first=Myrna B. |editor3-last=Shure |title=The Impulsive Client: Theory, Research, and Treatment |url=https://archive.org/details/impulsiveclientt0000unse |location= Washington, DC |publisher=American Psychological Association |isbn=978-1-55798-208-7}}</ref> which imperil long-term [[goal]]s and strategies for success.<ref name = "M&G10">{{cite book |last1=Madden |first1=Gregory J. |last2=Johnson |first2=Patrick S. |year=2010 |chapter=A Delay-Discounting Primer |editor1-first=Gregory Jude |editor1-last=Madden |editor2-first=Warren K. |editor2-last=Bickel |title=Impulsivity: The Behavioral and Neurological Science of Discounting |pages=11–37 |location= Washington, DC |publisher=American Psychological Association |isbn=978-1-4338-0477-9}}</ref> Impulsivity can be classified as a multifactorial [[Construct (philosophy of science) |construct]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/PL00005481 |title=Varieties of impulsivity |year=1999 |last1=Evenden |first1=J. L. |journal=Psychopharmacology |volume= 146 |issue=4 |pages=348–61 |pmid=10550486 |s2cid=5972342 }}</ref> A functional variety of impulsivity has also been suggested, which involves action without much forethought in appropriate situations that can and does result in desirable consequences. "When such actions have positive outcomes, they tend not to be seen as signs of impulsivity, but as indicators of [[boldness]], [[wiktionary:fast|quickness]], spontaneity, [[courageousness]], or unconventionality."<ref name="Daruna" /><ref name= "Dickman" /> Thus, the construct of impulsivity includes at least two independent components: first, acting without an appropriate amount of deliberation,<ref name= "Daruna"/> which may or may not be functional; and second, [[deferred gratification|choosing short-term gains over long-term ones]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rachlin |first1=Howard |year=2000 |chapter=Self-Control as an Abstraction of Environmental Feedback |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KWp-EJaEAUIC&pg=PA183 |page=183 |title=The Science of Self-Control |location=Cambridge, MA |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-00093-3}}</ref>

Impulsivity is both a [[Facet (psychology)|facet]] of personality and a major component of various disorders, including [[FASD]], [[autism]], [[ADHD]],<ref>{{cite journal |doi= 10.1037/0033-2909.127.5.571 |title=Is ADHD a disinhibitory disorder? |year=2001 |last1=Nigg |first1=Joel T. |journal=Psychological Bulletin |volume=127 |issue=5 |pages= 571–98 |pmid=11548968}}</ref> [[substance use disorder]]s,<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1097/00132576-200302020-00001 |title=Relationships Among Laboratory and Psychometric Measures of Impulsivity: Implications in Substance Abuse and Dependence |year=2003 |last1=Lane |first1=Scott D. |last2=Cherek |first2=Don R. |last3=Rhoades |first3= Howard M. |last4=Pietras |first4=Cynthia J. |last5=Tcheremissine |first5=Oleg V. |journal=Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=33–40|s2cid= 143129215 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1037/1064-1297.5.3.256 |title=Impulsive and self-control choices in opioid-dependent patients and non-drug-using control patients: Drug and monetary rewards |year=1997 |last1=Madden |first1=G.J. |last2=Petry |first2=N.M. |last3=Badger |first3=G.J. | last4=Bickel |first4= W. K. |journal= [[Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology]] |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=256–62 |pmid=9260073}}</ref> [[bipolar disorder]],<ref name="Henry">{{cite journal |doi= 10.1016/S0022-3956(01)00038-3 |title=Affective instability and impulsivity in borderline personality and bipolar II disorders: Similarities and differences |year=2001 |last1= Henry |first1=Chantal |last2=Mitropoulou |first2=Vivian |last3=New |first3=Antonia S |last4=Koenigsberg |first4=Harold W |last5=Silverman |first5=Jeremy |last6= Siever |first6= Larry J |journal=Journal of Psychiatric Research |volume=35 |issue=6 |pages=307–12 |pmid=11684137}}</ref> [[antisocial personality disorder]],<ref name= "Horn">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0028-3932(03)00077-0 |title=Response inhibition and impulsivity: An fMRI study |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_neuropsychologia_2003_41_14/page/1959 |year=2003 |last1=Horn |first1=N.R. |last2=Dolan |first2=M. |last3=Elliott |first3=R. |last4=Deakin |first4=J.F.W. |last5=Woodruff |first5=P.W.R. |journal=Neuropsychologia |volume=41 |issue=14 |pages=1959–66 |pmid=14572528 |s2cid=31957781 }}</ref> and [[borderline personality disorder]].<ref name="Henry"/> Abnormal patterns of impulsivity have also been noted in instances of [[acquired brain injury]]<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/bin.173 |title=Impulsivity, self-control, and delay discounting in persons with acquired brain injury |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_behavioral-interventions_2005-02_20_1/page/101 |year=2005 |last1=Dixon |first1=Mark R. |last2=Jacobs |first2=Eric A. |last3=Sanders |first3=Scott |last4=Guercio |first4=John M. |last5=Soldner |first5=James |last6= Parker-Singler |first6=Susan |last7=Robinson |first7=Ashton |last8=Small |first8=Stacey |last9=Dillen |first9=Jeffrey E. |journal=Behavioral Interventions |volume=20 |issue= 1 |pages=101–20 }}</ref> and [[neurodegenerative diseases]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nrneurol.2010.148 |title=Decision-making cognition in neurodegenerative diseases |year=2010 |last1=Gleichgerrcht |first1=Ezequiel |last2=Ibáñez |first2=Agustín |last3=Roca |first3=María |last4=Torralva |first4=Teresa |last5=Manes |first5=Facundo |journal=Nature Reviews Neurology |volume=6 |issue=11 |pages=611–23 |pmid=21045795 |s2cid=13333018 }}</ref> [[#Neurobiological findings|Neurobiological findings]] suggest that there are specific brain regions involved in impulsive behavior,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Corsini |first1=Raymond Joseph |year=1999 |title=The Dictionary of Psychology |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=1-58391-028-X |page=476}}</ref><ref name="Berlin" /><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1089/neu.2005.22.613 |title=Deficits in Decision-Making in Head Injury Survivors |year=2005 |last1=Salmond |first1=C.H. |last2=Menon |first2=D.K. |last3=Chatfield |first3=D.A. |last4=Pickard |first4=J.D. |last5=Sahakian |first5=B.J. |journal=Journal of Neurotrauma |volume=22 |issue=6 |pages=613–22 |pmid=15941371}}</ref> although different brain networks may contribute to different manifestations of impulsivity,<ref name="Delay Discounting in the Brain">{{cite journal | vauthors = Hampton WH, Venkatraman V, Olson IR | title = Dissociable frontostriatal white matter connectivity underlies reward and motor impulsivity | language = en | journal = NeuroImage | volume = 150 | issue = 4 | pages = 336–343 | year = 2017 | doi = 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.02.021 | pmid = 28189592 | pmc = 5494201 }} </ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nn.3092 |title=Adolescent impulsivity phenotypes characterized by distinct brain networks |year=2012 |last1=Whelan |first1=Robert |last2=Conrod |first2=Patricia J |last3=Poline |first3=Jean-Baptiste |last4=Lourdusamy |first4=Anbarasu |last5=Banaschewski |first5=Tobias |last6=Barker |first6=Gareth J |last7=Bellgrove |first7=Mark A |last8=Büchel |first8= Christian |last9=Byrne |first9=Mark |last10=Cummins |first10=Tarrant D R |last11=Fauth-Bühler |first11=Mira |last12=Flor |first12=Herta |last13=Gallinat |first13=Jürgen |last14=Heinz |first14=Andreas |last15=Ittermann |first15=Bernd |last16=Mann |first16=Karl |last17=Martinot |first17=Jean-Luc |last18=Lalor |first18=Edmund C |last19= Lathrop |first19=Mark |last20=Loth |first20=Eva |last21=Nees |first21=Frauke |last22=Paus |first22=Tomas |last23=Rietschel |first23=Marcella |last24=Smolka |first24= Michael N |last25=Spanagel |first25=Rainer |last26=Stephens |first26=David N |last27=Struve |first27=Maren |last28=Thyreau |first28=Benjamin |last29=Vollstaedt-Klein |first29=Sabine |last30=Robbins |first30=Trevor W |journal=Nature Neuroscience |volume=15 |issue=6 |pages=920–5 |pmid=22544311|s2cid=18808674 |display-authors=8 }}</ref> and that [[#Genetics|genetics]] may play a role.<ref name=":0" />

Impulsivity is both a [[Facet (psychology)|facet]] of personality and a major component of various disorders, including [[FASD]], [[autism]] (when accompanied by associated symptoms{{Which|date=July 2025}}),{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}} [[ADHD]],<ref>{{cite journal |doi= 10.1037/0033-2909.127.5.571 |title=Is ADHD a disinhibitory disorder? |year=2001 |last1=Nigg |first1=Joel T. |journal=Psychological Bulletin |volume=127 |issue=5 |pages= 571–98 |pmid=11548968}}</ref> [[substance use disorder]]s,<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1097/00132576-200302020-00001 |title=Relationships Among Laboratory and Psychometric Measures of Impulsivity: Implications in Substance Abuse and Dependence |year=2003 |last1=Lane |first1=Scott D. |last2=Cherek |first2=Don R. |last3=Rhoades |first3= Howard M. |last4=Pietras |first4=Cynthia J. |last5=Tcheremissine |first5=Oleg V. |journal=Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=33–40|s2cid= 143129215 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1037/1064-1297.5.3.256 |title=Impulsive and self-control choices in opioid-dependent patients and non-drug-using control patients: Drug and monetary rewards |year=1997 |last1=Madden |first1=G.J. |last2=Petry |first2=N.M. |last3=Badger |first3=G.J. | last4=Bickel |first4= W. K. |journal= [[Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology]] |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=256–62 |pmid=9260073}}</ref> [[bipolar disorder]],<ref name="Henry">{{cite journal |doi= 10.1016/S0022-3956(01)00038-3 |title=Affective instability and impulsivity in borderline personality and bipolar II disorders: Similarities and differences |year=2001 |last1= Henry |first1=Chantal |last2=Mitropoulou |first2=Vivian |last3=New |first3=Antonia S |last4=Koenigsberg |first4=Harold W |last5=Silverman |first5=Jeremy |last6= Siever |first6= Larry J |journal=Journal of Psychiatric Research |volume=35 |issue=6 |pages=307–12 |pmid=11684137}}</ref> [[antisocial personality disorder]],<ref name= "Horn">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0028-3932(03)00077-0 |title=Response inhibition and impulsivity: An fMRI study |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_neuropsychologia_2003_41_14/page/1959 |year=2003 |last1=Horn |first1=N.R. |last2=Dolan |first2=M. |last3=Elliott |first3=R. |last4=Deakin |first4=J.F.W. |last5=Woodruff |first5=P.W.R. |journal=Neuropsychologia |volume=41 |issue=14 |pages=1959–66 |pmid=14572528 |s2cid=31957781 }}</ref> and [[borderline personality disorder]].<ref name="Henry"/> Abnormal patterns of impulsivity have also been noted in instances of [[acquired brain injury]]<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/bin.173 |title=Impulsivity, self-control, and delay discounting in persons with acquired brain injury |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_behavioral-interventions_2005-02_20_1/page/101 |year=2005 |last1=Dixon |first1=Mark R. |last2=Jacobs |first2=Eric A. |last3=Sanders |first3=Scott |last4=Guercio |first4=John M. |last5=Soldner |first5=James |last6= Parker-Singler |first6=Susan |last7=Robinson |first7=Ashton |last8=Small |first8=Stacey |last9=Dillen |first9=Jeffrey E. |journal=Behavioral Interventions |volume=20 |issue= 1 |pages=101–20 }}</ref> and [[neurodegenerative diseases]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nrneurol.2010.148 |title=Decision-making cognition in neurodegenerative diseases |year=2010 |last1=Gleichgerrcht |first1=Ezequiel |last2=Ibáñez |first2=Agustín |last3=Roca |first3=María |last4=Torralva |first4=Teresa |last5=Manes |first5=Facundo |journal=Nature Reviews Neurology |volume=6 |issue=11 |pages=611–23 |pmid=21045795 |s2cid=13333018 }}</ref> [[#Neurobiological findings|Neurobiological findings]] suggest that there are specific brain regions involved in impulsive behavior,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Corsini |first1=Raymond Joseph |year=1999 |title=The Dictionary of Psychology |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=1-58391-028-X |page=476}}</ref><ref name="Berlin" /><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1089/neu.2005.22.613 |title=Deficits in Decision-Making in Head Injury Survivors |year=2005 |last1=Salmond |first1=C.H. |last2=Menon |first2=D.K. |last3=Chatfield |first3=D.A. |last4=Pickard |first4=J.D. |last5=Sahakian |first5=B.J. |journal=Journal of Neurotrauma |volume=22 |issue=6 |pages=613–22 |pmid=15941371}}</ref> although different brain networks may contribute to different manifestations of impulsivity,<ref name="Delay Discounting in the Brain">{{cite journal | vauthors = Hampton WH, Venkatraman V, Olson IR | title = Dissociable frontostriatal white matter connectivity underlies reward and motor impulsivity | language = en | journal = NeuroImage | volume = 150 | issue = 4 | pages = 336–343 | year = 2017 | doi = 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.02.021 | pmid = 28189592 | pmc = 5494201 }} </ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nn.3092 |title=Adolescent impulsivity phenotypes characterized by distinct brain networks |year=2012 |last1=Whelan |first1=Robert |last2=Conrod |first2=Patricia J |last3=Poline |first3=Jean-Baptiste |last4=Lourdusamy |first4=Anbarasu |last5=Banaschewski |first5=Tobias |last6=Barker |first6=Gareth J |last7=Bellgrove |first7=Mark A |last8=Büchel |first8= Christian |last9=Byrne |first9=Mark |last10=Cummins |first10=Tarrant D R |last11=Fauth-Bühler |first11=Mira |last12=Flor |first12=Herta |last13=Gallinat |first13=Jürgen |last14=Heinz |first14=Andreas |last15=Ittermann |first15=Bernd |last16=Mann |first16=Karl |last17=Martinot |first17=Jean-Luc |last18=Lalor |first18=Edmund C |last19= Lathrop |first19=Mark |last20=Loth |first20=Eva |last21=Nees |first21=Frauke |last22=Paus |first22=Tomas |last23=Rietschel |first23=Marcella |last24=Smolka |first24= Michael N |last25=Spanagel |first25=Rainer |last26=Stephens |first26=David N |last27=Struve |first27=Maren |last28=Thyreau |first28=Benjamin |last29=Vollstaedt-Klein |first29=Sabine |last30=Robbins |first30=Trevor W |journal=Nature Neuroscience |volume=15 |issue=6 |pages=920–5 |pmid=22544311|s2cid=18808674 |display-authors=8 }}</ref> and that [[#Genetics|genetics]] may play a role.<ref name=":0" />

Many actions contain both impulsive and compulsive features, but impulsivity and compulsivity are functionally distinct. Impulsivity and compulsivity are interrelated in that each exhibits a tendency to act prematurely or without considered thought and often include negative outcomes.<ref name="Berlin, H. A. 2008">{{cite journal |first1=Heather A. |last1=Berlin |first2=Eric |last2=Hollander |date=July 1, 2008 |title=Understanding the Differences Between Impulsivity and Compulsivity |issue=8 |journal=Psychiatric Times |series=Psychiatric Times Vol 25 No 8 |volume=25 |url=http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/understanding-differences-between-impulsivity-and-compulsivity/page/0/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001449/http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/understanding-differences-between-impulsivity-and-compulsivity/page/0/1 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Oldham |first1=J.M. |last2=Hollander |first2=E.|author3-link=Andrew E. Skodol |last3=Skodol |first3=A.E. |year=1996 |title=Impulsivity and Compulsivity |location=Washington D.C. |publisher=American Psychiatric Press}}{{page needed|date=June 2013}}</ref> Compulsivity may be on a continuum with compulsivity on one end and impulsivity on the other, but research has been contradictory on this point.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/eat.20169 |title=Impulsivity and compulsivity in bulimia nervosa |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_international-journal-of-eating-disorders_2005-11_38_3/page/244 |year=2005 |last1=Engel |first1=Scott G. |last2=Corneliussen |first2=Stephanie J. |last3=Wonderlich |first3=Stephen A. |last4=Crosby |first4=Ross D. |last5=Le Grange |first5=Daniel |last6=Crow |first6=Scott |last7=Klein |first7=Marjorie |last8=Bardone-Cone |first8=Anna |last9=Peterson |first9=Carol |last10=Joiner |first10=Thomas |last11=Mitchell |first11=James E. |last12=Steiger |first12=Howard |journal=International Journal of Eating Disorders |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=244–51 |pmid=16211626|display-authors=8 }}</ref> Compulsivity occurs in response to a perceived risk or threat, impulsivity occurs in response to a perceived immediate gain or benefit,<ref name="Berlin, H. A. 2008"/> and, whereas compulsivity involves repetitive actions, impulsivity involves unplanned reactions.

Many actions contain both impulsive and compulsive features, but impulsivity and compulsivity are functionally distinct. Impulsivity and compulsivity are interrelated in that each exhibits a tendency to act prematurely or without considered thought and often include negative outcomes.<ref name="Berlin, H. A. 2008">{{cite journal |first1=Heather A. |last1=Berlin |first2=Eric |last2=Hollander |date=July 1, 2008 |title=Understanding the Differences Between Impulsivity and Compulsivity |issue=8 |journal=Psychiatric Times |series=Psychiatric Times Vol 25 No 8 |volume=25 |url=http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/understanding-differences-between-impulsivity-and-compulsivity/page/0/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001449/http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/understanding-differences-between-impulsivity-and-compulsivity/page/0/1 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Oldham |first1=J.M. |last2=Hollander |first2=E.|author3-link=Andrew E. Skodol |last3=Skodol |first3=A.E. |year=1996 |title=Impulsivity and Compulsivity |location=Washington D.C. |publisher=American Psychiatric Press}}{{page needed|date=June 2013}}</ref> Compulsivity may be on a continuum with compulsivity on one end and impulsivity on the other, but research has been contradictory on this point.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/eat.20169 |title=Impulsivity and compulsivity in bulimia nervosa |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_international-journal-of-eating-disorders_2005-11_38_3/page/244 |year=2005 |last1=Engel |first1=Scott G. |last2=Corneliussen |first2=Stephanie J. |last3=Wonderlich |first3=Stephen A. |last4=Crosby |first4=Ross D. |last5=Le Grange |first5=Daniel |last6=Crow |first6=Scott |last7=Klein |first7=Marjorie |last8=Bardone-Cone |first8=Anna |last9=Peterson |first9=Carol |last10=Joiner |first10=Thomas |last11=Mitchell |first11=James E. |last12=Steiger |first12=Howard |journal=International Journal of Eating Disorders |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=244–51 |pmid=16211626|display-authors=8 }}</ref> Compulsivity occurs in response to a perceived risk or threat, impulsivity occurs in response to a perceived immediate gain or benefit,<ref name="Berlin, H. A. 2008"/> and, whereas compulsivity involves repetitive actions, impulsivity involves unplanned reactions.