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Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences pp 1–8Cite as

Disinhibition

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Synonyms

Dysconstraint; Externalization; Impulsivity

Definition

Phenotypic propensity toward inhibitory control problems, comprising behavioral manifestations of impulsive action, urgency, lack of planfulness, impatience, distractibility, boredom susceptibility, irresponsibility, risk taking, and sensation and novelty seeking.

Introduction

The definition of disinhibition is not consensual. As an umbrella concept, disinhibition interacts with several other constructs that are frequently used in the literature to describe a tendency toward inhibitory control problems. For example, disinhibition and impulsivity (see impulsivity in Winstanley) are frequently used as interchangeable constructs. However, disinhibition may be conceptualized as a general background for behavioral impulsivity (Luria 1969).

Disinhibition is a complex multifaceted construct. From the literature review, the most consensual and prominent phenotypic expressions of disinhibition include impulsive action, a sense of...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Rita Pasion

  2. Católica Porto Business School, Porto, Portugal

    Rita Pasion

Authors
  1. Rita Pasion
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Correspondence to Rita Pasion .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Virgil Zeigler-Hill

  2. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Lakehead University, Orillia, Canada

    Beth A. Visser

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Pasion, R. (2016). Disinhibition. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1065-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1065-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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