IMPULSIVITY - THE CONSTRUCT

The renewal of interest on impulsivity concept is explained by sociolo gical and biological factors. A challenging aim is to give a definitio n in distinct terms of this construct. Actually, impulsivity can be de scribe as ''thoughts or impulsive ideo-affective process with many rep eated behaviours, directly linked to such thoughs'' Impulsivity can be found in many discrete disorders. To study impulsivity it would be be tter to consider it like transnographic entity. The exact situation of the concept in relation to personality concept remain controversial. Impulsivity has been considered bike a temperament, when it is taking like determined biological trait. Until now, attempt of impulsivity ph ysiologic measurement are without results. Only psychometric approach can quantify impulsivity. Impulsivity may be define like a tendency of action before thinking (or thought), with non planning or bad estimat ion of consequences. Finally, impulsivity concept is multidimensional, closely linked to incapacity to differ behavior, to control different emotions, specially sexual and aggressive, connected to the rapidity of information processing, innovation research and incapacity to delay reward.