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Adults Can and Do Have Tantrums [psychcentral.com]

 

When we hear the word tantrum, we picture a 2-year-old lying on the floor kicking and screaming. Very rarely do we use it to describe an adult having an outburst. In reality, adults can have this kind of outburst at any moment in time.

We don’t typically refer to an adult as having a tantrum. We refer to them as being angry or “just blowing off some steam.” However, when their behavior becomes cyclical, predictive, or problematic the impact of their behavior should be assessed and addressed.

Tantrums typically follow an action made by another person that results in the recipient feeling angry, disappointed or discouraged. Behaviorists consider actions that include angry outbursts, aggression, and rage as maladaptive. With maturity, adults typically move in a direction of developing socially appropriate methods to express anger. Adults are encouraged to verbally express how they feel, instead of acting out in a manner that is hurtful or disruptive to others.

[For more on this story by Anjail Ameen-Rice, LCSW, go to https://psychcentral.com/blog/...nd-do-have-tantrums/]

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