Impulsive behavior is appealing: In the heat of the moment, you want that piece of cake or that pair of shoes, but you are not thinking about the consequences.

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And that has an uncertain effect on returns--it's obviously very helpful in bad markets and is a drag in good markets--but the beauty of it is that it reduces your impulsive behavior.

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Adolescence can be a volatile stage in which teens are sexually curious, prone to risk-taking and susceptible to peer influence, which can lead to impulsive and inappropriate behavior, she said.

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While some people will simply turn to other methods, suicidal behavior is generally impulsive, and motivation waxes and wanes, Gould said.

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