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We live in a chaotic, aggressive world, marked by destruction. This destruction is rife in private and public life; it transcends national boundaries and permeates all sectors of society. The 20th century could well be known as the age of destructive impulsivity.
As analysts, we are interested in understanding how aggressive impulses take hold of the personality, and in how we can help people gain mastery over them.
We are all familiar with impulses—they are the instincts in action, they are powerful, and they come in two kinds: libidinal and aggressive, and in varying combinations of both. When we don't recognize their presence and instead act on them, we can get into trouble, particularly if they are aggressive. The action can be verbal or nonverbal and it is always a communication. You have all heard the famous adage: “Actions speak louder than words.”
When destructive impulses gain the better part of the personality, they produce what are called impulse control disorders. The DSM-III-R informs us that “[They] are broadly defined as mental disorders characterized by irresistible impulses to perform harmful acts. They present three essential features: (1) failure to resist an impulse, drive, or temptation to perform some act that is harmful to the person or others, (2) an increasing sense of tension or arousal before committing the act, and (3) an experience of pleasure, gratification, or release