Atantrum,angry outburst,temper tantrum,lash out,meltdown,fit, orhissy fit is anemotionaloutburst,^[1][2][3] usually associated with those in emotional distress. It is typically characterized bystubbornness,crying,screaming,violence,^[4]defiance,^[5]angryranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification, and in some cases, hitting 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 fromschool for older school age children, and could result in a timeout or grounding, complete with room or corner time, at home.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]} A tantrum may be expressed in a tirade: a protracted, angry speech.^[6][7][12]

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.^[13] For atoddler, tantrums can be considered as normal, and even as gauges of developing strength of character.^[14][15][16]

While tantrums are sometimes seen as a predictor of futureanti-social behavior,^[17] in another sense they are simply an age-appropriate sign of excessivefrustration,^[18] and will diminish over time given a calm and consistent handling.^[19][20][21] Parental containment where a child cannot contain themself—rather than what the child is ostensibly demanding—may be what is really required.^[22]

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".^[23]

Some people who have developmental disorders such asAutism,Asperger syndrome,ADHD, andintellectual disability^[24] or even adevelopmental disability, could be more vulnerable to tantrums than others, although anyone experiencing brain damage (temporary or permanent) can suffer from tantrums.^[25] Anyone may be prone to tantrums once in a while, regardless of gender or age.^[26][27] However, a meltdown due tosensory overload (which even non-autistic children can experience) is not the same as a temper tantrum.^[28]

Freud considered that theWolf 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".^[29] Freud linked the tantrums to an unconscious need for punishment driven by feelings ofguilt^[30]—something which he thought could be generalised to many other cases of childhood tantrums.^[31][32]

Heinz Kohut contended that tantrums wererages of anger,^[33] caused by the thwarting of the infant'sgrandiose-exhibitionist core. The blow to the inflated self-image, when a child's wishes are (however justifiably) refused, creates fury because it strikes at the feeling ofomnipotence.^[34]

Jealousy over the birth of a sibling, and resulting aggression,^[35] may also provokenegativistic tantrums, as the effort at controlling the feelings overloads the child's system of self-regulation.^[36][37]

WriterWilliam 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—'Tantrumical', if we may term it so".^[38]

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 representnarcissistic rages"^[33] at the blow to the inflated self-image. With "a child confronted with some refusal ... regardless of its justifications, the refusal automatically provokes fury, since it offends his sense ofomnipotence".^[34]

The willingness of thecelebrity to throw tantrums whenever thwarted to the least degree^[39] is a kind ofacquired situational narcissism^[40] 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.^[41]

• Acting out – Performing an action considered bad
• Amok syndrome – Aggressive behavioral pattern
• Philippic – Damning speech to condemn a particular political actor

• The dictionary definition oftantrum at Wiktionary

• Aggression
• Childhood
• Emotion
• Habits
• Narcissism
• Parenting
• Problem behavior
• Violence
• Symptoms or signs involving mood or affect

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