Functional and dysfunctional impulsivity in children and their relationship to Eysenckʹs impulsiveness and venturesomeness dimensions

According to Dickman (1990) adults are characterised by two impulsive personality traits that represent different cognitive styles: functional and dysfunctional impulsivity. It is not yet clear whether this distinction also applies to children as no suitable inventory to measure functionality and dysfunctionality in children exists. The aim of the present study was to devise an impulsivity scale consisting of subscales measuring functional and dysfunctional impulsivity for use with children. The results suggest that a distinction between functional and dysfunctional impulsivity in children is valid and that the pattern of correlations between functional and dysfunctional impulsivity and Eysenckʹs measures of impulsiveness and venturesomeness in children parallels that found by Dickman in an adult sample.