# Tantrum

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Type of anger outburst engaged in typically by young children

For other uses, see [Tantrum (disambiguation)](/source/Tantrum_(disambiguation)).

Child having a tantrum

"[Christina Rossetti](/source/Christina_Rossetti) in a Tantrum" by her brother, [Dante Gabriel Rossetti](/source/Dante_Gabriel_Rossetti)

A **tantrum**, **conniption**, **angry outburst**[1], **temper tantrum**, **lash out**, **meltdown**, **fit of anger**, or **hissy fit** is an [emotional](/source/Emotion) [outburst](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/outburst),[2][3][4] usually associated with children or those in emotional distress. It is typically characterized by stubbornness[5], [crying](/source/Crying)[6], [screaming](/source/Screaming), [violence](/source/Violence),[7][8] defiance,[9][10] [angry](/source/Anger) ranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification, and in some cases, hitting or [bullying](/source/Bully) 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 may lead to a child getting [detention](/source/Detention_(school)) or being [suspended](/source/Suspension_(punishment)) from [school](/source/School) for older school-age children, and could result in a [timeout](/source/Time-out_(parenting)) or [grounding](/source/Grounding_(discipline_technique)), complete with room or corner time, at home.[11][12][13][14][15][16] A tantrum may be expressed in a tirade: a protracted, angry speech.[11][12][17]

## In early childhood

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.[18] For a [toddler](/source/Toddler), tantrums can be considered as normal, and even as gauges of developing strength of character.[19][20][21]

While tantrums are sometimes seen as a predictor of future [anti-social behavior](/source/Anti-social_behavior),[22] in another sense they are simply an age-appropriate sign of excessive [frustration](/source/Frustration),[23] and will diminish over time given a calm and consistent handling.[24][25][26] Parental containment where a child cannot contain themself—rather than what the child is ostensibly demanding—may be what is really required.[27]

[Selma Fraiberg](/source/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".[28]

## Intellectual and developmental disorders

Some people who have developmental disorders such as [autism](/source/Autism), [Asperger syndrome](/source/Asperger_syndrome), [ADHD](/source/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder), and [intellectual disability](/source/Intellectual_disability)[29] or even a [developmental disability](/source/Developmental_disability), could be more vulnerable to tantrums than others, although anyone experiencing brain damage (temporary or permanent) can suffer from tantrums.[30] Anyone may be prone to tantrums once in a while, regardless of gender or age.[31][32] However, a meltdown due to [sensory overload](/source/Sensory_overload) (which even non-autistic children can experience) is not the same as a temper tantrum.[33]

## Aberrations

[Freud](/source/Sigmund_Freud) considered that the [Wolf Man](/source/Sergei_Pankejeff)'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".[34] Freud linked the tantrums to an unconscious need for punishment driven by feelings of [guilt](/source/Guilt_(emotion))[35]—something which he thought could be generalised to many other cases of childhood tantrums.[36][37]

[Heinz Kohut](/source/Heinz_Kohut) contended that tantrums were [rages of anger](/source/Narcissistic_injury), caused by the thwarting of the infant's [grandiose](/source/Grandiosity)-[exhibitionist](/source/Exhibitionism) core.[38] 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](/source/Omnipotence).[39]

[Jealousy](/source/Jealousy) over the birth of a [sibling](/source/Sibling_rivalry), and resulting aggression,[40] may also provoke [negativistic](/source/Passive-aggressive_behavior) tantrums, as the effort at controlling the feelings overloads the child's system of self-regulation.[41][42]

## In later life

Writer [William Makepeace Thackeray](/source/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".[43]

The willingness of the [celebrity](/source/Celebrity_culture) to throw tantrums whenever thwarted to the least degree[44] is a kind of [acquired situational narcissism](/source/Acquired_situational_narcissism)[45] 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](/source/Neurodiversity) people under extreme stress.[46]

## See also

- [Acting out](/source/Acting_out) – Performing an action considered bad

- [Amok syndrome](/source/Amok_syndrome) – Aggressive behavioral pattern

- [Berserker](/source/Berserker) fights in a frenzy

- [Philippic](/source/Philippic) – Damning speech to condemn a particular political actor

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** J.P., Maxwell (2004). ["Anger rumination: An antecedent of athlete aggression?"](https://doi.org/10.1016/S1469-0292(03)00007-4). *Psychology of Sport and Exercise*. **5** (3): 279–289.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** "The Cabinet Album: A Collection of Original and Selected Literature". *Book*. Hurst Chance and Company: 92. 1830.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Foote, Samuel (1765). "The Dramatic Works Volume 1". *The Dramatic Works*. **1**. P. Vaillant: 40–41.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Payn, James (1869). *Married Beneath Him. A novel. By the author of "Lost Sir Massingberd" James Payn*. The British Library. p. 369.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** "Novels [originally Published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, 1886-1894]". *Novels*. **1**. The Ohio State University: United States: Lippincott: 272. 1886.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** R. G., Barr (2000). "Excessive crying". *Handbook of developmental psychopathology*. 2nd ed. Kluwer Academic Publishers.: 327–350.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** V. J., Konecni (1975). ["Annoyance, type and duration of postannoyance activity, and aggression: The "cathartic effect.""](https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.104.1.76). *Journal of Experimental Psychology: General*. **104** (1): 76–102.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** O'Hara, Kane (1770). "Midas An English Burletta. As it is Performed at the Theatre-Royal, in Covent-Garden". *Midas an English Burletta. As It is Performed at the Theatre-Royal, in Covent-Garden*: 20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** GOMBERT, A. J. (1825). "The French Drama ... with Notes Critical and Explanatory, by A. G. Volume 2 of The French Drama ... with Notes Critical and Explanatory, by A. G". *The French Drama..*. **2**. The British Library: 47.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** K.A., Freeman (2004). ["Introduction to Special Issue on Adolescent Conduct Problems"](https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445503258997). *Behavior Modification*. **28** (3): 323–330.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-babycentre_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-babycentre_11-1) Penelope Leach. ["What is a tantrum?"](http://www.babycentre.co.uk/toddler/penelopeleach/whatisatantrum/). *BabyCentre*. Retrieved 2011-03-20.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kidshealth_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kidshealth_12-1) ["Temper Tantrums"](http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/tantrums.html). *KidsHealth*. Retrieved 2011-03-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Karisa Ding (July 26, 2017). ["Tantrums"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071012024614/http://www.babycenter.com/0_tantrums_11569.bc). *BabyCenter*. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved 2011-03-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Jan Hunt. ["When a Child Has a Tantrum"](http://www.naturalchild.org/jan_hunt/tantrum.html). *The Natural Child Project*. Retrieved 2011-03-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Mullen, J.K. (1983). "Understanding and managing the temper tantrum". *Child Care Quarterly*. **12** (1): 59–70. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/BF01258080](https://doi.org/10.1007%2FBF01258080). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [144110786](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:144110786).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Geelerd, E.R. (1945). "Observations on temper tantrums in children". *American Journal of Orthopsychiatry*. **15** (2): 238–246. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1939-0025.1945.tb04937.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1939-0025.1945.tb04937.x).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Daniels, Elizabeth; Mandleco, Barbara; Luthy, Karlen E. (2012). ["Assessment, management, and prevention of childhood temper tantrums"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1745-7599.2012.00755.x). *Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners*. **24** (10): 569–573. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1745-7599.2012.00755.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1745-7599.2012.00755.x). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [23006014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23006014).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Banham Bridges, Katharine M. (1932). "Emotional Development in Early Infancy". *Child Development*. **3** (4): 324–341. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1125359](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1125359). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1125359](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1125359).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Robin Skynner; John Cleese (1993). *Families and how to survive them*. p. 177.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Isaacs, S. (1940). "Temper tantrums in early childhood in their relation to internal objects". *The International Journal of Psychoanalysis*. **21**: 280–293.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Solter, A. (1992). "Understanding Tears and Tantrums". *Young Children*. **47** (4): 64–68. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [42725308](https://www.jstor.org/stable/42725308).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Potegal, Michael; Davidson, Richard J. (June 2003). "Temper Tantrums in Young Children". *Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics*. **24** (3): 140–147. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1097/00004703-200306000-00002](https://doi.org/10.1097%2F00004703-200306000-00002). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [12806225](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12806225). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [23682833](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:23682833).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Green, J.A.; Whitney, P.G.; Potegal, M. (2011). ["Screaming, yelling, whining, and crying: Categorical and intensity differences in vocal expressions of anger and sadness in children's tantrums"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3192404). *Emotion*. **11** (5): 1124–1133. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1037/a0024173](https://doi.org/10.1037%2Fa0024173). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3192404](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3192404). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [21707157](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21707157).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Roy Benaroch (2008). *Solving Health and Behavioural Problems from Birth Through Preschool*. p. 157.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Kopp, C.B. (1989). "Regulation of distress and negative emotions: A developmental view". *Developmental Psychology*. **25** (3): 343–354. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1037/0012-1649.25.3.343](https://doi.org/10.1037%2F0012-1649.25.3.343).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Levine, Linda (1995). "Young Children's Understanding of the Causes of Anger and Sadness". *Child Development*. **66** (3): 967–709. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1131944](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1131944). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1131944](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1131944). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [7789196](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7789196).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Patrick Casement (1990). *Further Learning from the Patient*. pp. 113–4.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Selma H. Fraiberg (1987). *The Magic Years*. p. 65.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** Luiselli, J.; Murbach, L. (2002). "Providing Instruction from Novel Staff as an Antecedent Intervention for Child Tantrum Behavior in a Public School Classroom". *Education and Treatment of Children*. **25** (3): 356–365. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [42899711](https://www.jstor.org/stable/42899711).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Lancioni, G. E.; Smeets, P. M.; Ceccarani, P. S.; Capodaglio, L.; Campanari, G. (1984). "Effects of gross motor activities on the severe self-injurious tantrums of multihandicapped individuals". *Applied Research in Mental Retardation*. **5** (4): 471–482. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0270-3092(84)80039-9](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0270-3092%2884%2980039-9). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [6240965](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6240965).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** Sandra Ketcham. ["Temper Tantrums and Autism"](http://autism.lovetoknow.com/Temper_Tantrums_and_Autism). *LoveToKnow*. Retrieved 25 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Osterman, Karin; Bjorkqvist, Kaj (April 1, 2010). "A Cross-Sectional Study of Onset, Cessation, Frequency, and Duration of Children's Temper Tantrums in a Nonclinical Sample". *Psychological Reports*. **106** (2): 448–454. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2466/pr0.106.2.448-454](https://doi.org/10.2466%2Fpr0.106.2.448-454). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [20524545](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20524545). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [43291154](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:43291154).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** Bennie, Maureen (2 February 2016). ["Tantrum vs Autistic Meltdown: What Is The Difference?"](https://autismawarenesscentre.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-tantrum-and-an-autistic-meltdown/). *Autism Awareness*. Autism Awareness Centre Inc. Retrieved 9 June 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** Sigmund Freud. *Case Histories II (PFL 9)*. p. 242.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** Sigmund Freud. *Case Histories II (PFL 9)*. p. 257.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** Sigmund Freud. *Case Histories II (PFL 9)*. pp. 242 & 257–8.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** M., R.J, Potegal, Davidson (1997). ["Young children's post tantrum affiliation with their parents"](https://doi.org/10.1002%2F%28SICI%291098-2337%281997%2923%3A5%3C329%3A%3AAID-AB3%3E3.0.CO%3B2-D). *Aggressive Behavior*. **23** (5): 329–341. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/(SICI)1098-2337(1997)23:5<329::AID-AB3>3.0.CO;2-D](https://doi.org/10.1002%2F%28SICI%291098-2337%281997%2923%3A5%3C329%3A%3AAID-AB3%3E3.0.CO%3B2-D).{{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-I._Goldenberg,_2007_p._172_38-0)** H. Goldenberg; I. Goldenberg (2007). *Family Therapy*. p. 172. 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](/source/Narcissistic) rages" at the blow to the inflated self-image.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gambling_1974_p._182_39-0)** [Edmund Bergler](/source/Edmund_Bergler) in J. Halliday/P. Fuller eds., *The Psychology of Gambling* (London 1974) p. 182: With "a child confronted with some refusal ... regardless of its justifications, the refusal automatically provokes fury, since it offends his sense of [omnipotence](/source/Omnipotence)".

1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** J., H.A., Kagan, Moss (1962). ["The stability of behavior: II. Aggression. In J. Kagan & H. A. Moss, Birth to maturity: A study in psychological development"](https://doi.org/10.1037/13129-004). *Birth to Maturity: A Study in Psychological Development*. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: 85–119. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1037/13129-004](https://doi.org/10.1037%2F13129-004).{{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** Selma H. Fraiberg (1987). *The Magic Years*. p. 152.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-42)** Dennis, Tracy A. (2006). "Emotional self-regulation in preschoolers: The interplay approach reactivity, and control capacities". *Developmental Psychology*. **42** (1): 84–97. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1037/0012-1649.42.1.84](https://doi.org/10.1037%2F0012-1649.42.1.84). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [16420120](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16420120). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [14692506](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:14692506).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-43)** William Makepeace Thackeray (1848). [*The Irish Sketch Book*](https://archive.org/details/irishsketchbook01thacgoog). J. Winchester. p. [138](https://archive.org/details/irishsketchbook01thacgoog/page/n158).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-44)** Cooper Lawrence, *The Cult of Celebrity* (2009) p. 72

1. **[^](#cite_ref-45)** Simon Crompton, *All About Me* (London 2007) p. 176

1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** Cohn, Janice. ["North Jersey"](http://www.northjersey.com/news/health-news/adult-temper-tantrums-1.1126134). *North Jersey*. Retrieved 25 March 2018.

## External links

- The dictionary definition of [*tantrum*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tantrum) at Wiktionary

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tantrum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantrum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantrum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.