Types Of Dysfunctional Behaviors And Their Characteristics

Behavior, defined by the psychology dictionary of the American Psychiatric Association⁽¹⁾, consists of objectively observable activities that arise in response to internal or external stimuli. Among them we can also include non-conscious processes and introspectively observable activities.

Sometimes, these responses can unbalance good physical, psychological or social functioning, thus considering them dysfunctional behaviors. These dysfunctional behaviors can be contextualized in some mental disorders as their symptoms.

In this PsychologyFor article we expose 24 types of dysfunctional behaviors and their characteristics. Keep in mind that some of these behaviors, by themselves, may not necessarily indicate the existence of psychological problems. In these cases, it would be some parameters such as duration, frequency or intensity that could make them a pathological problem.

impulsive behavior

It is a type of behavior that lacks foresight, reflection or consideration of the consequences and also involves a risk. The person experiences a lack of control over his or her own behavior. In this article you can see more about what impulsivity is in psychology.

Within the diagnostic classification of the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2014), a group of disorders appears related to the destruction of impulse control and behavior. The following three behaviors that we expose (pyromaniac, kleptomaniac and trichotillomaniac) fall within this group and are exposed in this article due to their diagnostic importance.

pyromaniac behavior

Pyromania as such constitutes a psychological disorder. Within it, dysfunctional behavior would be found in the fire setting which is also done intentionally and deliberately.

kleptomaniac behavior

It consists of the theft of objects that have no importance in terms of their need or their monetary value, without the person being able to control their impulse. Dysfunctional behavior involves the impulsive theft of objects and, together with other diagnostic criteria, constitutes a disorder.

Trichotillomaniac behavior

This dysfunctional behavior consists of recurrent hair pulling. As in the previous ones, this behavior together with other diagnostic criteria can constitute a disorder. In the following article, you will find more information about trichotillomania.

Avoidant behavior

Avoidant behavior consists of activity evasion, places, thoughts or any other stimulus related to traumatic events, phobic objects or others that imply significant discomfort. Avoidance contributes to the maintenance of the problem and it is this aspect that would make it a dysfunctional behavior.

For example, the person would take itineraries that do not involve passing through the place where they were robbed or would try to think about innocuous matters to distract themselves and not think about relevant matters that could cause discomfort.

passive behavior

Passive behaviors are those in which the person behaves submissively, putting the interests, preferences, desires and rights of others before their own. Lowering your gaze or head would be examples of passive behavior. Also think, as an example, of situations in which a person, despite not wanting to do some activity, does it due to social pressure to please others.

aggressive behavior

Aggressive behavior is the opposite extreme of passive behavior. The person in this case puts your preferences, interests, desires and rights above others. Direct attacks can be physical (smacking another person, punching a wall) or verbal (insulting, intimidating or threatening, for example).

Disruptive behavior

It is a term more used in the child population. Disruptive behavior consists of the use of threats and intimidation used to violate social norms. For example, boys or girls who do not obey the teacher, people who constantly pick fights, etc.

antisocial behavior

This type of behavior is more applicable to the adult population. Antisocial behavior is behavior that deviates from social norms and violates the rights of others. An example of antisocial behavior would be vandalism.

In this article we explain antisocial personality disorder.

Passive-aggressive behavior

These are behaviors that, although apparently they do not show aggressive intentionality, indirectly they do imply aggression. These behaviors are closely linked to the concept of resistance.

Think, for example, that you ask a co-worker for an important favor to complete your work and he intentionally does not do it. In this way, his behavior will have negative consequences for you.

Autolytic behavior

Self-harming behavior refers to those behaviors that involve physical harm to oneself without necessarily having the intention of ending one’s own life. An example of this type of behavior could be making cuts using knives or blades on the forearm.

uicidal behavior

Suicidal behavior is that which is carried out with the aim of ending one’s own life. As risk factors for the appearance of this behavior we can find hopelessness, impulsivity, deficits in problem solving, family history or suffering from a mental disorder such as mood disorders, addiction disorders or psychotic disorders.

uninhibited behavior

Disinhibited behavior is the product of a lack or decrease in control of one’s own emotions and/or actions. This type of behavior can be caused by the ingestion of alcohol or other substances and/or the impairment of executive functions.

To look for examples of this type of behavior, think about people who have consumed a large amount of alcohol and are unable to control what they say or who dance in a seemingly uncontrolled manner.

ubstance addictive behavior

Addictive behavior involves the development of consumption dependence, in this case, substances such as tobacco, alcohol or cocaine. Examples of these behaviors are the consumption itself or the search for substances. In this article we talk about drug addiction, its causes and consequences.

Addictive behavior to new technologie

In a similar way to the previous one, addictive behavior to new technologies involves the constant use of devices such as mobile phones, tablets or computers as a consequence of a dependency on them. In the following articles you can see more information about Internet addiction and mobile phone addiction.

compulsive behavior

Compulsive behavior is described in the DSM-5 as a repetitive behavior or mental act carried out in response to the obsessions or rigid rules that the person sets for themselves. Examples of compulsions would be washing your hands constantly, checking many times if the door has been closed.

Its objective is to reduce anxiety or discomfort and/or avoid some feared event or situation, even if it really has no effect on said situation.

Hyperactive behavior

This type of behavior is characterized by excessive restlessness and motor activity. The clear example of this behavior is found in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Hyperactive people are unable to sit still for long periods of time or do so while experiencing discomfort, squirming in their seat, etc.

Hypoactive behavior

Unlike in the case of hyperactivity, hypoactivity involves behaviors in which theactivity appears slower or poorer than normal. An example can be found in hypoactive sexual desire disorder in men in which the desire for sexual activity, fantasies or sexual thoughts are absent. In depressive disorders we can also find hypoactive or slowed behaviors.

paraphilic behavior

Paraphilic behaviors are those that are carried out with the intention of achieving sexual arousal. For example, watching other couples having sex or showing your genitals to unsuspecting people.

Paraphilic behaviors They are pathological when they involve damage or discomfort for the person themselves and/or for others. These behaviors, along with other criteria, form the paraphilic disorders included in the DSM-5. In this article we talk about the types of paraphilias.

Intake of non-nutritious food

Pica would be the disorder in which, in addition to other diagnostic criteria, the intake of non-nutritious foods appears. like soil intake. This is a behavior more typical of the child population.

binge eating

Binge eating involves eating large amounts of food in a short time (less than expected) in which the person feels a loss of control. We can find this behavior as a symptom in the bulimia nervosa disorder or as a diagnostic category with its own entity.

Purgative behavior

Purging, which appears in eating disorders, consists of expulsion of food ingested through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics or enemas.

Restrictive food intake

Restrictive eating behavior is one in which the person avoid feeding or eat certain foods. An example would be people who, due to the composition of some foods, do without them in their diet, causing harm to their health.

This behavior, along with other diagnostic criteria, makes up DSM-5 avoidant/restrictive eating disorder.

Inappropriate excretory behavior

These are two dysfunctional behaviors that constitute, along with other criteria, the disorders of enuresis (urination) and encopresis (defecation). Excretory behavior is dysfunctional when it occurs in inappropriate situations or places, regardless of whether the behavior is voluntary or involuntary. This type of behavior is more common in children.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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