{{Short description|Type of anger outburst engaged in typically by young children}} {{other uses}} thumb|Child having a tantrum [[File:Dante Gabriel Rossetti - Christina Rossetti in a Tantrum.jpg|thumb|"Christina Rossetti in a Tantrum" by her brother, Dante Gabriel Rossetti]] A '''tantrum''', '''conniption''', '''angry outburst'''<ref>{{Cite journal |last=J.P. |first=Maxwell |date=2004 |title=Anger rumination: An antecedent of athlete aggression? |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/S1469-0292(03)00007-4 |journal=Psychology of Sport and Exercise |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=279-289}}</ref>, '''temper tantrum''', '''lash out''', '''meltdown''', '''fit of anger''', or '''hissy fit''' is an emotional outburst,<ref>{{Cite journal |last= |first= |date=1830 |title=The Cabinet Album: A Collection of Original and Selected Literature |journal=Book |publisher=Hurst Chance and Company |pages=92}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Foote|first=Samuel|date=1765|title=The Dramatic Works Volume 1|journal=The Dramatic Works|publisher=P. Vaillant|volume=1|pages=40–41}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Payn |first=James |title=Married Beneath Him. A novel. By the author of "Lost Sir Massingberd" James Payn |publisher=The British Library |year=1869 |pages=369}}</ref> usually associated with children or those in emotional distress. It is typically characterized by stubbornness<ref>{{Cite journal |last= |first= |date=1886 |title=Novels [originally Published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, 1886-1894] |journal=Novels |location= |publisher=United States: Lippincott |publication-place=The Ohio State University |volume=1 |pages=272}}</ref>, crying<ref>{{Cite journal |last=R. G. |first=Barr |date=2000 |title=Excessive crying. |journal=Handbook of developmental psychopathology |publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers. |volume=2nd ed. |pages=327-350}}</ref>, screaming, violence,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=V. J. |first=Konecni |date=1975 |title=Annoyance, type and duration of postannoyance activity, and aggression: The "cathartic effect." |url=https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.104.1.76 |journal=Journal of Experimental Psychology: General |volume=104 |issue=1 |pages=76-102}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=O'Hara|first=Kane|date=1770|title=Midas An English Burletta. As it is Performed at the Theatre-Royal, in Covent-Garden|journal=Midas an English Burletta. As It is Performed at the Theatre-Royal, in Covent-Garden|pages=20}}</ref> defiance,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=GOMBERT|first=A. J.|date=1825|title=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|journal=The French Drama...|publisher=The British Library|volume=2|pages=47}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=K.A. |first=Freeman |date=2004 |title=Introduction to Special Issue on Adolescent Conduct Problems. |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445503258997 |journal=Behavior Modification |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=323-330}}</ref> angry ranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification, and in some cases, hitting or bullying 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 or being suspended from school for older school-age children, and could result in a timeout or grounding, complete with room or corner time, at home.<ref name="babycentre">{{cite web|url=http://www.babycentre.co.uk/toddler/penelopeleach/whatisatantrum/ |author= Penelope Leach|title=What is a tantrum? |website= BabyCentre|access-date=2011-03-20}}</ref><ref name="kidshealth">{{cite web|url=http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/tantrums.html|title=Temper Tantrums|website= KidsHealth |access-date=2011-03-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.babycenter.com/0_tantrums_11569.bc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012024614/http://www.babycenter.com/0_tantrums_11569.bc |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |title=Tantrums |website=BabyCenter |author=Karisa Ding|date=July 26, 2017 |access-date=2011-03-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jan Hunt|url=http://www.naturalchild.org/jan_hunt/tantrum.html |title=When a Child Has a Tantrum |work=The Natural Child Project |access-date=2011-03-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mullen|first=J.K.|date=1983|title=Understanding and managing the temper tantrum|journal=Child Care Quarterly|volume=12|issue=1|pages=59–70|doi=10.1007/BF01258080|s2cid=144110786}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|first=E.R.|last=Geelerd|date=1945|title=Observations on temper tantrums in children|journal=American Journal of Orthopsychiatry|volume=15|issue=2|pages=238–246|doi=10.1111/j.1939-0025.1945.tb04937.x}}</ref> A tantrum may be expressed in a tirade: a protracted, angry speech.<ref name="babycentre" /><ref name="kidshealth" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Daniels|last2=Mandleco|last3=Luthy|first1=Elizabeth|first2=Barbara|first3=Karlen E.|date=2012|title=Assessment, management, and prevention of childhood temper tantrums|journal=Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners|volume=24|issue=10|pages=569–573|doi=10.1111/j.1745-7599.2012.00755.x|pmid=23006014|doi-access=free}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Banham Bridges|first=Katharine M.|date=1932|title=Emotional Development in Early Infancy|journal=Child Development|volume=3|issue=4|pages=324–341|jstor=1125359|doi=10.2307/1125359}}</ref> For a toddler, tantrums can be considered as normal, and even as gauges of developing strength of character.<ref>{{cite book|author=Robin Skynner|author2=John Cleese|title=Families and how to survive them|date=1993|page=177}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|first=S.|last=Isaacs|date=1940|title=Temper tantrums in early childhood in their relation to internal objects.|journal=The International Journal of Psychoanalysis|volume=21|pages=280–293}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|first=A.|last=Solter|date=1992|title=Understanding Tears and Tantrums|journal=Young Children|volume=47|issue=4|pages=64–68|jstor=42725308}}</ref>
While tantrums are sometimes seen as a predictor of future anti-social behavior,<ref>{{Cite journal|author1=Potegal, Michael|author2=Davidson, Richard J.|title=Temper Tantrums in Young Children|journal= Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics|volume=24|issue=3|pages=140–147|date=June 2003|doi=10.1097/00004703-200306000-00002|pmid= 12806225|s2cid=23682833}}</ref> in another sense they are simply an age-appropriate sign of excessive frustration,<ref>{{Cite journal|first1=J.A.|first2=P.G.|first3=M.|last1=Green|last2=Whitney|last3=Potegal|date=2011|title=Screaming, yelling, whining, and crying: Categorical and intensity differences in vocal expressions of anger and sadness in children's tantrums.|journal=Emotion|volume=11|issue=5|pages=1124–1133|doi=10.1037/a0024173|pmid=21707157|pmc=3192404}}</ref> and will diminish over time given a calm and consistent handling.<ref>{{cite book|author= Roy Benaroch|title=Solving Health and Behavioural Problems from Birth Through Preschool|date=2008|page=157}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|first=C.B.|last=Kopp|date=1989|title=Regulation of distress and negative emotions: A developmental view.|journal= Developmental Psychology|volume=25|issue=3|pages=343–354|doi=10.1037/0012-1649.25.3.343}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Levine|first=Linda|date=1995|title=Young Children's Understanding of the Causes of Anger and Sadness|journal=Child Development|volume=66|issue=3|pages=967–709|jstor=1131944|doi=10.2307/1131944 |pmid=7789196 }}</ref> Parental containment where a child cannot contain themself—rather than what the child is ostensibly demanding—may be what is really required.<ref>{{cite book|author=Patrick Casement|title=Further Learning from the Patient|date=1990|pages=113–4}}</ref>
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".<ref>{{cite book|author=Selma H. Fraiberg|title=The Magic Years|date=1987|page=65}}</ref>
== Intellectual and developmental disorders == Some people who have developmental disorders such as autism, Asperger syndrome, ADHD, and intellectual disability<ref>{{Cite journal|first1=J.|first2=L.|last1=Luiselli|last2=Murbach|date=2002|title=Providing Instruction from Novel Staff as an Antecedent Intervention for Child Tantrum Behavior in a Public School Classroom|journal=Education and Treatment of Children|volume=25|issue=3|pages=356–365|jstor=42899711}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite journal|first1=G. E.|first2=P. M.|first3=P. S.|first4=L.|first5=G.|last1=Lancioni|last2=Smeets|last3=Ceccarani|last4=Capodaglio|last5=Campanari|date=1984|title=Effects of gross motor activities on the severe self-injurious tantrums of multihandicapped individuals.|journal=Applied Research in Mental Retardation|volume=5|issue=4|pages=471–482|doi=10.1016/S0270-3092(84)80039-9|pmid=6240965}}</ref> Anyone may be prone to tantrums once in a while, regardless of gender or age.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sandra Ketcham|url=http://autism.lovetoknow.com/Temper_Tantrums_and_Autism|title=Temper Tantrums and Autism|work=LoveToKnow|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Osterman|last2=Bjorkqvist|first1=Karin|first2=Kaj|date=April 1, 2010|title=A Cross-Sectional Study of Onset, Cessation, Frequency, and Duration of Children's Temper Tantrums in a Nonclinical Sample|journal=Psychological Reports|volume=106|issue=2|pages=448–454|doi=10.2466/pr0.106.2.448-454|pmid=20524545|s2cid=43291154}}</ref> However, a meltdown due to sensory overload (which even non-autistic children can experience) is not the same as a temper tantrum.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bennie|first1=Maureen|title=Tantrum vs Autistic Meltdown: What Is The Difference?|url=https://autismawarenesscentre.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-tantrum-and-an-autistic-meltdown/|website=Autism Awareness|publisher=Autism Awareness Centre Inc.|access-date=9 June 2017|date=2 February 2016}}</ref>
==Aberrations== 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".<ref>{{cite book|author=Sigmund Freud|title=Case Histories II (PFL 9) |page=242}}</ref> Freud linked the tantrums to an unconscious need for punishment driven by feelings of guilt<ref>{{cite book|author=Sigmund Freud|title=Case Histories II (PFL 9) |page=257}}</ref>—something which he thought could be generalised to many other cases of childhood tantrums.<ref>{{cite book|author=Sigmund Freud|title=Case Histories II (PFL 9)|pages=242 & 257–8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=M., R.J |first=Potegal, Davidson |date=1997 |title=Young children's post tantrum affiliation with their parents |journal= Aggressive Behavior|volume=23 |issue=5 |pages=329–341 | doi=10.1002/(SICI)1098-2337(1997)23:5<329::AID-AB3>3.0.CO;2-D |doi-access=free }}</ref>
Heinz Kohut contended that tantrums were rages of anger, caused by the thwarting of the infant's grandiose-exhibitionist core.<ref name="I. Goldenberg, 2007 p. 172">{{cite book |author=H. Goldenberg |title=Family Therapy |author2=I. Goldenberg |year=2007 |pages=172 |quote=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" at the blow to the inflated self-image.}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Gambling 1974 p. 182">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".</ref>
Jealousy over the birth of a sibling, and resulting aggression,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=J., H.A. |first=Kagan, Moss |date=1962 |title=The stability of behavior: II. Aggression. In J. Kagan & H. A. Moss, Birth to maturity: A study in psychological development |url=https://doi.org/10.1037/13129-004 |journal=Birth to Maturity: A Study in Psychological Development |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |pages=85–119|doi=10.1037/13129-004 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> may also provoke negativistic tantrums, as the effort at controlling the feelings overloads the child's system of self-regulation.<ref>{{cite book|author=Selma H. Fraiberg|title=The Magic Years|date=1987|page=152}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|first=Tracy A.|last=Dennis|date=2006|title=Emotional self-regulation in preschoolers: The interplay approach reactivity, and control capacities|journal=Developmental Psychology|volume=42|issue=1|pages=84–97|doi=10.1037/0012-1649.42.1.84|pmid=16420120|s2cid=14692506}}</ref>
==In later life== 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{{tsp}}{{mdash}}'Tantrumical', if we may term it so".<ref>{{cite book|author=William Makepeace Thackeray|title=The Irish Sketch Book|url=https://archive.org/details/irishsketchbook01thacgoog|date=1848|page=[https://archive.org/details/irishsketchbook01thacgoog/page/n158 138]|publisher=J. Winchester }}</ref>
The willingness of the celebrity to throw tantrums whenever thwarted to the least degree<ref>Cooper Lawrence, ''The Cult of Celebrity'' (2009) p. 72</ref> is a kind of acquired situational narcissism<ref>Simon Crompton, ''All About Me'' (London 2007) p. 176</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cohn |first1=Janice |url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/health-news/adult-temper-tantrums-1.1126134|title=North Jersey|website=North Jersey|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>
==See also== * {{annotated link|Acting out}} * {{annotated link|Amok syndrome}} * Berserker fights in a frenzy * {{annotated link|Philippic}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{wiktionary-inline|tantrum}}
Category:Aggression Category:Childhood Category:Emotion Category:Habits Category:Narcissism Category:Parenting Category:Problem behavior Category:Violence Category:Articles containing video clips Category:Symptoms or signs involving mood or affect