A tantrum, temper tantrum, lash out, meltdown, fit, or hissy fit is an emotional outburst, [1] [2] [3] usually associated with those in emotional distress. It is typically characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming, violence, [4] defiance, [5] angry ranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification, and, in some cases, hitting and other physically violent behavior. Physical control may be lost; the person may be unable to remain still; and even if the "goal" of the person is met, they may not be calmed. Throwing a temper tantrum can lead to a child getting detention or being suspended from school for older school age children, and can result in a timeout or grounding, complete with room or corner time, at home. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] A tantrum may be expressed in a tirade: a protracted, angry speech. [6] [7] [12]
Tantrums are one of the most common forms of problematic behavior in young children but tend to decrease in frequency and intensity as the child gets older. [13] For a toddler, tantrums can be considered as normal, and even as gauges of developing strength of character. [14] [15] [16]
While tantrums are sometimes seen as a predictor of future anti-social behavior, [17] in another sense they are simply an age-appropriate sign of excessive frustration, [18] and will diminish over time given a calm and consistent handling. [19] [20] [21] Parental containment where a child cannot contain themself—rather than what the child is ostensibly demanding—may be what is really required. [22]
Selma Fraiberg warned against "too much pressure or forceful methods of control from the outside" in child-rearing: "if we turn every instance of pants changing, treasure hunting, napping, puddle wading and garbage distribution into a governmental crisis we can easily bring on fierce defiance, tantrums, and all the fireworks of revolt in the nursery". [23]
Some people who have developmental disorders such as Autism, Asperger syndrome, ADHD, and intellectual disability [24] or even a developmental disability, could be more vulnerable to tantrums than others, although anyone experiencing brain damage (temporary or permanent) can suffer from tantrums. [25] Anyone may be prone to tantrums once in a while, regardless of gender or age. [26] [27] However, a meltdown due to sensory overload (which even neurotypical children can experience) is not the same as a temper tantrum. [28]
Freud considered that the Wolf Man's development of temper tantrums was connected with his seduction by his sister: he became "discontented, irritable and violent, took offence on every possible occasion, and then flew into a rage and screamed like a savage". [29] Freud linked the tantrums to an unconscious need for punishment driven by feelings of guilt [30]—something which he thought could be generalised to many other cases of childhood tantrums. [31] [32]
Heinz Kohut contended that tantrums were rages of anger, [33] caused by the thwarting of the infant's grandiose- exhibitionist core. The blow to the inflated self-image, when a child's wishes are (however justifiably) refused, creates fury because it strikes at the feeling of omnipotence. [34]
Jealousy over the birth of a sibling, and resulting aggression, may also provoke negativistic tantrums, as the effort at controlling the feelings overloads the child's system of self-regulation. [35] [36]
Writer William Makepeace Thackeray claimed that in later life "you may tell a tantrum as far as you can see one, by the distressed and dissatisfied expression of its countenance—'Tantrumical', if we may term it so". [37]
Heinz Kohut contended that "the baby’s core is likely to contain a self-centered, grandiose-exhibitionist part", and that "tantrums at being frustrated thus represent narcissistic rages" [33] at the blow to the inflated self-image. With "a child confronted with some refusal ... regardless of its justifications, the refusal automatically provokes fury, since it offends his sense of omnipotence". [34]
The willingness of the celebrity to throw tantrums whenever thwarted to the least degree [38] is a kind of acquired situational narcissism [39] or tantrumical behavior.
If older people show tantrums, they might often be signs of immaturity or a mental or developmental disability; and often autistic or ADHD meltdowns are incorrectly labelled tantrums. It can also occur in neurotypical people under extreme stress. [40]
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cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
A tantrum, temper tantrum, lash out, meltdown, fit, or hissy fit is an emotional outburst, [1] [2] [3] usually associated with those in emotional distress. It is typically characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming, violence, [4] defiance, [5] angry ranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification, and, in some cases, hitting and other physically violent behavior. Physical control may be lost; the person may be unable to remain still; and even if the "goal" of the person is met, they may not be calmed. Throwing a temper tantrum can lead to a child getting detention or being suspended from school for older school age children, and can result in a timeout or grounding, complete with room or corner time, at home. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] A tantrum may be expressed in a tirade: a protracted, angry speech. [6] [7] [12]
Tantrums are one of the most common forms of problematic behavior in young children but tend to decrease in frequency and intensity as the child gets older. [13] For a toddler, tantrums can be considered as normal, and even as gauges of developing strength of character. [14] [15] [16]
While tantrums are sometimes seen as a predictor of future anti-social behavior, [17] in another sense they are simply an age-appropriate sign of excessive frustration, [18] and will diminish over time given a calm and consistent handling. [19] [20] [21] Parental containment where a child cannot contain themself—rather than what the child is ostensibly demanding—may be what is really required. [22]
Selma Fraiberg warned against "too much pressure or forceful methods of control from the outside" in child-rearing: "if we turn every instance of pants changing, treasure hunting, napping, puddle wading and garbage distribution into a governmental crisis we can easily bring on fierce defiance, tantrums, and all the fireworks of revolt in the nursery". [23]
Some people who have developmental disorders such as Autism, Asperger syndrome, ADHD, and intellectual disability [24] or even a developmental disability, could be more vulnerable to tantrums than others, although anyone experiencing brain damage (temporary or permanent) can suffer from tantrums. [25] Anyone may be prone to tantrums once in a while, regardless of gender or age. [26] [27] However, a meltdown due to sensory overload (which even neurotypical children can experience) is not the same as a temper tantrum. [28]
Freud considered that the Wolf Man's development of temper tantrums was connected with his seduction by his sister: he became "discontented, irritable and violent, took offence on every possible occasion, and then flew into a rage and screamed like a savage". [29] Freud linked the tantrums to an unconscious need for punishment driven by feelings of guilt [30]—something which he thought could be generalised to many other cases of childhood tantrums. [31] [32]
Heinz Kohut contended that tantrums were rages of anger, [33] caused by the thwarting of the infant's grandiose- exhibitionist core. The blow to the inflated self-image, when a child's wishes are (however justifiably) refused, creates fury because it strikes at the feeling of omnipotence. [34]
Jealousy over the birth of a sibling, and resulting aggression, may also provoke negativistic tantrums, as the effort at controlling the feelings overloads the child's system of self-regulation. [35] [36]
Writer William Makepeace Thackeray claimed that in later life "you may tell a tantrum as far as you can see one, by the distressed and dissatisfied expression of its countenance—'Tantrumical', if we may term it so". [37]
Heinz Kohut contended that "the baby’s core is likely to contain a self-centered, grandiose-exhibitionist part", and that "tantrums at being frustrated thus represent narcissistic rages" [33] at the blow to the inflated self-image. With "a child confronted with some refusal ... regardless of its justifications, the refusal automatically provokes fury, since it offends his sense of omnipotence". [34]
The willingness of the celebrity to throw tantrums whenever thwarted to the least degree [38] is a kind of acquired situational narcissism [39] or tantrumical behavior.
If older people show tantrums, they might often be signs of immaturity or a mental or developmental disability; and often autistic or ADHD meltdowns are incorrectly labelled tantrums. It can also occur in neurotypical people under extreme stress. [40]
{{
cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)