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At a GlanceExternalizing behaviors are linked to certain mental health conditions, such as antisocial personality disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.

At a Glance

Externalizing behaviors are linked to certain mental health conditions, such as antisocial personality disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.

Externalizing is a psychological term that describes psychiatric disorders where people have trouble controlling their emotions and behaviors. People with externalizing disorders direct antisocial and aggressive behavior outward (externally) at other people rather than turning their feelings inward (internalizing) on themselves.

A person diagnosed with an externalizing disorder has difficulties controlling emotions and impulses and expresses them in ways that violate the rights of others.For example, they may confront other people angrily and aggressively, opposing or “taking on” authority figures, or striking back against social limits.

This article will cover mental health disorders with externalizing and give examples of externalizing behaviors.

Types of Psychiatric Disorders

Psychiatric Disorders Featuring Externalizing

The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’sDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5) groups externalizing disorders under the formal heading of “Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders.”

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

In this externalizing disorder, the behavior relates to a person’s distress or that of others close to them and has a negative effect on their ability to function.

What to Know About Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Conduct Disorder

In this externalizing disorder, a person’s behavior seriously negatively affects their ability to function socially, including at work or school. Also, if the person is aged 18 or older, the diagnosis is only made if they do not meet the diagnostic criteria for another externalizing disorder called antisocial personality disorder.

Conduct Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Pyromania (Fire-Setting)

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-pyromaniac-4160050

Kleptomania (Stealing)

This externalizing disorder involves having a compulsion to steal. The criteria for diagnosingkleptomaniainclude:

In this disorder, thefts are not committed to express anger or vengeance. The thefts also are not responses todelusionsorhallucinations.

What You Need to Know About Kleptomania

Intermittent Explosive Disorder

How Childhood Trauma Relates to Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Unlike other externalizing disorders, antisocial personality disorder is aCluster B personality disorderthat is mainly discussed in DSM-5 under the heading “Personality Disorders.” It’s described as “a pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others” in persons aged 18 years or older whose behavior demonstrated evidence of conduct disorder before the age of 15 years old.

The criteria for diagnosing this externalizing disorder include combinations of symptoms that involve disregarding and violating the rights of others. For example:

While psychopathy is often associated with antisocial personality disorder, not every person with ASPD would be considered a psychopath.

Symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder

What Causes Externalizing?

Externalizing Examples

Here are some examples of externalizing behaviors:

Types of Behavioral Disorders in Children

Treating Externalizing Disorders

A combination of therapy and medication may be needed to help people with externalizing disorders. For example, some people benefit from using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to learn to identify and change their aggressive behaviors. It can also be useful for parents and other adults in a child’s life to have therapy and training to learn how to support a child with externalizing behaviors.

Impulse Control Disorder and Impulsive Behavior

Summary

Externalizing behavior means a person is having trouble controlling their emotions and behaviors. Externalizing behaviors are linked to specific mental health conditions like antisocial personality disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. Since externalizing behaviors can have a major negative effect on a person’s life and endanger them and others, it’s important that they get the support they need. Therapy and sometimes medication may help people with externalizing disorders control their behaviors more effectively.

18 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Frick PJ, Thornton LC.A Brief History of the Diagnostic Classification of Childhood Externalizing Disorders. In: Centifanti LC, Williams DM, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology.Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2017.doi:10.1002/9781118554470.ch23APA.What are disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders?.American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Oppositional defiant disorder.Ghosh A, Ray A, Basu A.Oppositional defiant disorder: current insight.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:353-367. Published 2017 Nov 29. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120582Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-5 Changes: Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2016.Johnson SJ, Netherton, E.Fire setting and the impulse-control disorder of pyromania.Johnson RS, Netherton E.Fire Setting and the Impulse-Control Disorder of Pyromania.Am J Psychiatry Resid J. 2016;11(7):14-16. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707Saluja B, Chan LG, Dhaval D.Kleptomania: a case series.Singapore Med J. 2014;55(12):e207-e209. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014188Shevidi S, Timmins MA, Coccaro EF.Childhood and parental characteristics of adults with DSM-5 intermittent explosive disorder compared with healthy and psychiatric controls.Compr Psychiatry. 2023;122:152367. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152367Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.18, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Intermittent Explosive Disorder Comparison.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD). (US); 2016 Jun.Rolston C.Antisocial personality disorder. In: Kreutzer J, DeLuca J, Caplan B, eds.Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Switzerland: Springer, Cham; 2017. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2Abdalla-Filho E, Völlm B.Does every psychopath have an antisocial personality disorder?Braz J Psychiatry.2020;42(3):241-242. doi: 10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0762Samek DR, Hicks BM.Externalizing disorders and environmental risk: Mechanisms of gene-environment interplay and strategies for intervention.Clin Pract (Lond). 2014;11(5):537-547. doi:10.2217/CPR.14.47Child Mind Institute.Oppositional defiant disorder.NHS.Antisocial personality disorder.Farmer EMZ, Compton SN, Burns JB, Robertson E.Review of the evidence base for treatment of childhood psychopathology: Externalizing disorders.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2002;70(6):1267-1302. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.70.6.1267Battagliese G, Caccetta M, Luppino OI, et al.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for externalizing disorders: A meta-analysis of treatment effectiveness.Behav Res Ther. 2015;75:60-71. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.10.008Vanderwerker L, Akincigil A, Olfson M, Gerhard T, Neese-Todd S, Crystal S.Foster care, externalizing disorders, and antipsychotic use among medicaid-enrolled youths.Psychiatric Services. 2014;65(10):1281-1284. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201300455Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2015.

18 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Frick PJ, Thornton LC.A Brief History of the Diagnostic Classification of Childhood Externalizing Disorders. In: Centifanti LC, Williams DM, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology.Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2017.doi:10.1002/9781118554470.ch23APA.What are disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders?.American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Oppositional defiant disorder.Ghosh A, Ray A, Basu A.Oppositional defiant disorder: current insight.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:353-367. Published 2017 Nov 29. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120582Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-5 Changes: Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2016.Johnson SJ, Netherton, E.Fire setting and the impulse-control disorder of pyromania.Johnson RS, Netherton E.Fire Setting and the Impulse-Control Disorder of Pyromania.Am J Psychiatry Resid J. 2016;11(7):14-16. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707Saluja B, Chan LG, Dhaval D.Kleptomania: a case series.Singapore Med J. 2014;55(12):e207-e209. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014188Shevidi S, Timmins MA, Coccaro EF.Childhood and parental characteristics of adults with DSM-5 intermittent explosive disorder compared with healthy and psychiatric controls.Compr Psychiatry. 2023;122:152367. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152367Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.18, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Intermittent Explosive Disorder Comparison.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD). (US); 2016 Jun.Rolston C.Antisocial personality disorder. In: Kreutzer J, DeLuca J, Caplan B, eds.Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Switzerland: Springer, Cham; 2017. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2Abdalla-Filho E, Völlm B.Does every psychopath have an antisocial personality disorder?Braz J Psychiatry.2020;42(3):241-242. doi: 10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0762Samek DR, Hicks BM.Externalizing disorders and environmental risk: Mechanisms of gene-environment interplay and strategies for intervention.Clin Pract (Lond). 2014;11(5):537-547. doi:10.2217/CPR.14.47Child Mind Institute.Oppositional defiant disorder.NHS.Antisocial personality disorder.Farmer EMZ, Compton SN, Burns JB, Robertson E.Review of the evidence base for treatment of childhood psychopathology: Externalizing disorders.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2002;70(6):1267-1302. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.70.6.1267Battagliese G, Caccetta M, Luppino OI, et al.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for externalizing disorders: A meta-analysis of treatment effectiveness.Behav Res Ther. 2015;75:60-71. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.10.008Vanderwerker L, Akincigil A, Olfson M, Gerhard T, Neese-Todd S, Crystal S.Foster care, externalizing disorders, and antipsychotic use among medicaid-enrolled youths.Psychiatric Services. 2014;65(10):1281-1284. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201300455Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2015.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Frick PJ, Thornton LC.A Brief History of the Diagnostic Classification of Childhood Externalizing Disorders. In: Centifanti LC, Williams DM, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology.Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2017.doi:10.1002/9781118554470.ch23APA.What are disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders?.American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Oppositional defiant disorder.Ghosh A, Ray A, Basu A.Oppositional defiant disorder: current insight.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:353-367. Published 2017 Nov 29. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120582Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-5 Changes: Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2016.Johnson SJ, Netherton, E.Fire setting and the impulse-control disorder of pyromania.Johnson RS, Netherton E.Fire Setting and the Impulse-Control Disorder of Pyromania.Am J Psychiatry Resid J. 2016;11(7):14-16. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707Saluja B, Chan LG, Dhaval D.Kleptomania: a case series.Singapore Med J. 2014;55(12):e207-e209. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014188Shevidi S, Timmins MA, Coccaro EF.Childhood and parental characteristics of adults with DSM-5 intermittent explosive disorder compared with healthy and psychiatric controls.Compr Psychiatry. 2023;122:152367. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152367Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.18, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Intermittent Explosive Disorder Comparison.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD). (US); 2016 Jun.Rolston C.Antisocial personality disorder. In: Kreutzer J, DeLuca J, Caplan B, eds.Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Switzerland: Springer, Cham; 2017. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2Abdalla-Filho E, Völlm B.Does every psychopath have an antisocial personality disorder?Braz J Psychiatry.2020;42(3):241-242. doi: 10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0762Samek DR, Hicks BM.Externalizing disorders and environmental risk: Mechanisms of gene-environment interplay and strategies for intervention.Clin Pract (Lond). 2014;11(5):537-547. doi:10.2217/CPR.14.47Child Mind Institute.Oppositional defiant disorder.NHS.Antisocial personality disorder.Farmer EMZ, Compton SN, Burns JB, Robertson E.Review of the evidence base for treatment of childhood psychopathology: Externalizing disorders.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2002;70(6):1267-1302. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.70.6.1267Battagliese G, Caccetta M, Luppino OI, et al.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for externalizing disorders: A meta-analysis of treatment effectiveness.Behav Res Ther. 2015;75:60-71. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.10.008Vanderwerker L, Akincigil A, Olfson M, Gerhard T, Neese-Todd S, Crystal S.Foster care, externalizing disorders, and antipsychotic use among medicaid-enrolled youths.Psychiatric Services. 2014;65(10):1281-1284. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201300455

Frick PJ, Thornton LC.A Brief History of the Diagnostic Classification of Childhood Externalizing Disorders. In: Centifanti LC, Williams DM, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology.Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2017.doi:10.1002/9781118554470.ch23

APA.What are disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders?.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Oppositional defiant disorder.

Ghosh A, Ray A, Basu A.Oppositional defiant disorder: current insight.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:353-367. Published 2017 Nov 29. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120582

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-5 Changes: Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2016.

Johnson SJ, Netherton, E.Fire setting and the impulse-control disorder of pyromania.

Johnson RS, Netherton E.Fire Setting and the Impulse-Control Disorder of Pyromania.Am J Psychiatry Resid J. 2016;11(7):14-16. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110707

Saluja B, Chan LG, Dhaval D.Kleptomania: a case series.Singapore Med J. 2014;55(12):e207-e209. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014188

Shevidi S, Timmins MA, Coccaro EF.Childhood and parental characteristics of adults with DSM-5 intermittent explosive disorder compared with healthy and psychiatric controls.Compr Psychiatry. 2023;122:152367. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152367

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Table 3.18, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Intermittent Explosive Disorder Comparison.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD). (US); 2016 Jun.

Rolston C.Antisocial personality disorder. In: Kreutzer J, DeLuca J, Caplan B, eds.Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Switzerland: Springer, Cham; 2017. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2

Abdalla-Filho E, Völlm B.Does every psychopath have an antisocial personality disorder?Braz J Psychiatry.2020;42(3):241-242. doi: 10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0762

Samek DR, Hicks BM.Externalizing disorders and environmental risk: Mechanisms of gene-environment interplay and strategies for intervention.Clin Pract (Lond). 2014;11(5):537-547. doi:10.2217/CPR.14.47

Child Mind Institute.Oppositional defiant disorder.

NHS.Antisocial personality disorder.

Farmer EMZ, Compton SN, Burns JB, Robertson E.Review of the evidence base for treatment of childhood psychopathology: Externalizing disorders.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2002;70(6):1267-1302. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.70.6.1267

Battagliese G, Caccetta M, Luppino OI, et al.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for externalizing disorders: A meta-analysis of treatment effectiveness.Behav Res Ther. 2015;75:60-71. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.10.008

Vanderwerker L, Akincigil A, Olfson M, Gerhard T, Neese-Todd S, Crystal S.Foster care, externalizing disorders, and antipsychotic use among medicaid-enrolled youths.Psychiatric Services. 2014;65(10):1281-1284. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201300455

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2015.

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