Impulsivity: A Predisposition Toward Risky Behaviors

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: For risky behaviors and mental disorders. The construct of impulsivity is significantly important in research and clinical fields concerning risky behaviors and some mental disorders. Although, according to DSM and ICD, impulsivity is recognized as a diagnostic criterion for several disorders (1), but the way it influences mental disorders and development of risky behaviors is not yet clear. Disagreement over the definition of impul-siveness, its main components, and measurement techniques could be considered as major causes that make forming a comprehensive theory regarding impulsivity development and its role in psychopathology impossible. Impulsivity has been investigated from various perspectives and several definitions have been proposed. From a charachterological perspective, Eysenck holds that impulsivity is characterized by unplanned risky behaviors , and making up one's mind quickly (2). Dickman proposed that dysfunctional impulsivity is characterized by taking action with less thought in comparison to most individuals with the same level of skill and knowledge. Later, Dickman pointed out another component called inhibition component which manifests as inadequate attention, which itself is a cause of impulsivity (3, 4). Bar-ratt distinguished three dimensions of impulse: A) motor (action without thinking), B) cognitive (quick cogni-tive decision-making), and C) non-planning (decrease in orientation towards future) factors (5). Nigg et al. defined impulsivity as a rash response in situations where considerate response is more appropriate (6). According to Pat-ton et al. there are three factors contributing to impulsiv-ity: A) acting on the spur of moment (motor activation), B) not focusing on the task at hand (inattentiveness) , and C) not planning and thinking carefully (non-planning) (7). From a biological and neuropsychological perspective, impulsivity is characterized by failure in inhibiting a potentially risky impulse for the individual or the others around (8). From a cognitive viewpoint, impulsivity is the inability to inhibit behavioral impulses and thoughts. It considers impulse control as an important component of executive functions. It plays an important role in one's social and personal functioning (9). Considering social aspect of impulsivity, it referred as a learned behavior that is formed inside the family. In family, children learn to react immediately in order to achieve what they desire (10). Therefore, impulsive individuals lack the ability to evaluate the consequences of their actions, either for themselves or for the others. Moeller et al. look upon impulsivity from a bio-psycho-social perspective in order to incorporate various cogni-tive-social and its characterological aspects. They hold …