Dictionary Definition
tantrum n : a display of bad temper; "he had a
fit"; "she threw a tantrum"; "he made a scene" [syn: fit, scene, conniption]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
Since 1714, of unknown originPronunciation
Noun
- An often childish display or fit of bad temper.
- Many parents become embarrassed by their children throwing tantrums in public places.
Translations
- Arabic: فورة غضب، نوبة غضب، سورة، هيجان
- Catalan: enrabiada , rebequeria
- Finnish: kiukunpuuska, raivonpuuska
- French: coup de colère
- German: Wutanfall , Ausraster
- Italian: bizza
- Japanese: 癇癪 (かんしゃく, kanshaku)
- Persian: کج خلقی، خشم، قهر
- Russian: истерика , приступ гнева
- Spanish: rabieta, berrinche, pataleta
- Swedish: raseriutbrott , utbrott
See also
Extensive Definition
A tantrum is an emotional outburst of ill humor
or a fit of bad temper wherein the higher brain functions are
unable to stop the emotional expression of the lower (emotional and
physical) brain functions. It can be categorized by an irrational
fit of crying, screaming, defiance, and a resistance to every
attempt at pacification in which even physical control is lost. The
person may not stand or sit on their own. Even when the "goal" of
the person is met, he or she is not calmed. People who have
neurological disorders such as the combination of autism and/or mental
retardation are more prone to tantrums than others, although
anyone experiencing forebrain damage -- temporary or permanent --
can suffer from tantrums. Everyone has tantrums once in a while.
The most common ways to temporarily damage the forebrain are to
poison it with a mood depressant (such as alcohol) or inhibit its
functioning with lack of sleep or brain fatigue. Drugs such as
marijuana
can also cause the higher brain functions not to control the lower
functions of the brain due to increased agitation.
Because a tantrum is most often associated with small children, it
is often also colloquially known in Australia as a dummy spit, a
reference to an unhappy baby spitting out a dummy, or pacifier. In infants,
it is important to differentiate between developmental etiologies
of tantrums as fostered by environment versus temperamental
etiologies of tantrums as determined by innate organic
idiosyncrasies.
From a psychological standpoint, there may be
several goals to a tantrum, which may or may not be the "reward(s)"
that are consciously desired by the person. To many outsiders,
these goals may seem irrational, unreasonable, inappropriate,
criminal, unethical, immoral, or the work of some spiritual
force(s). To people familiar with or trained to recognize the
psychological causes of such behavior, however, there are clear
emotional, cognitive behavioural and biochemical correlates to
tantrums.
Since there are chemical correlates to tantrums,
some kinds of medication can minimize but not always prevent
tantrums. This is especially true for those people with traumatic
brain injury, which commonly affects the forebrain. In many
situations, the tantrum can be a very effective political and
social tool, especially for adults, such as police (Good
cop/Bad cop scenarios), custodial officers, childcare workers,
teachers, therapists and politicians. Tantrums are such common and
powerful communication tools between people that some schools of
acting demand them as an essential part of their training.
A tantrum may be expressed in a tirade, a
protracted speech usually marked by intemperate, vituperative or
harshly censorious language. A tirade may also take the forms of a
prolonged fire of invective or a long-drawn-out harangue.
Other names
- Breakdown
- Dummy spit
- Fanfare
- Hissy (southwest United States)
- Hissy fit
- Jeremiad (dolorous tirade)
- Meltdown
- Outburst
- Paddy (anti-Irish origin)
- Petulant frenzy
- Philippic (tirade)
- Strop
- Sulk
- Tanny spit (Irish)
- Tanty
- Temper tantrum
- Tizzy
- Tirade
- Wingding
- Wobbler
- Wobbly