What is a common characteristic of a compulsion?

A common characteristic of a compulsion is its nature as an uncontrollable urge to perform a behavior. Compulsions typically manifest as repetitive actions or thoughts that an individual feels driven to engage in, often in response to intrusive thoughts or anxiety. This urgency and lack of control are defining features, distinguishing compulsive behaviors from simply planned or socially influenced actions.

For example, someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may feel compelled to wash their hands repeatedly to alleviate anxiety, despite recognizing that the behavior is excessive or irrational. The key element is that the individual experiences both the urge prompting the behavior and the internal conflict regarding the necessity or appropriateness of that behavior.

This is notably different from characteristics associated with delusions, which involve a false belief about reality, or actions requiring deliberate planning, which suggest a level of intention and control absent in compulsive behaviors. External societal pressure could influence behavior, but it doesn't encapsulate the core experience of compulsion, which is deeply rooted in an individual’s psychological state.