Inhibition describes the functions which control and curtail one’s impulses, thoughts, feelings, and actions. It is crucial in self-regulation and allows a person to pause and consider their actions, ignore distracting stimuli, and act according to an individual’s objectives or socially acceptable behavior. In cognitive psychology, inhibiting control is the deletion of irrelevant information in problem-solving to allow clearer focus on the task at hand. An instance of emotional inhibition is one’s ability to refrain from shouting in a very emotional context. While inhibition is a function which is healthy and needed for adaptive functioning, it becomes maladaptive when functioning excessively leading to emotional suppression, increased anxiety, and social withdrawal. On the other hand, a person exhibiting poor inhibition tends to act on impulses, is easily distracted, is hyperactive, and has emotional and some antisocial personality disorders. This balance of inhibition becomes important, enabling one to control impulses and not restrict ability to express emotion, thus increasing the level of emotional and social competence.
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