Episode 237: Understanding Impulsivity

Is your teen being impulsive, oppositional, or something more concerning—and how can you tell the difference? In this episode, Dr. Ken breaks down three commonly misunderstood behavior patterns in adolescents: impulsivity, oppositional behavior, and conduct disorder. He explains what impulsivity actually looks like in teens (and what it doesn’t), how oppositional behavior often shows up only around authority, and why conduct disorder is far less common—but important to recognize. You’ll learn how these behaviors differ, why the distinction matters, and how to balance empathy with accountability. If you have a minute, please leave us a review. We love hearing listeners encouraging other listeners. You can order Dr. Ken's book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" here You can order Cynthia's book "Life Is Messy, God Is Good" here You can pre-order Cynthia's book "How'd I Miss That" here Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you! podcast@feedingthemouth.com Music provided by the great John David Kent - Advertising Inquiries: Privacy & Opt-Out:

You can listen to Episode 237: Understanding Impulsivity online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 237: Understanding Impulsivity is an episode from Feeding The Mouth That Bites You by Kenneth Wilgus, Cynthia Yanof.

This episode is 32:23 long.

This episode was published on Feb 10, 2026.

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