The authors present evidence for two related traits, positive and negative urgency, which refer to individual differences in the disposition to engage in rash action when experiencing extreme positive and negative affect, respectively. These traits are distinct from other dispositions toward rash action and play distinct roles in predicting problem levels of involvement in behaviors such as alcohol consumption, binge eating, drug use, and risky sexual behavior. The authors identify facilitative conditions for the emergence of the urgency traits from neuroscience, noting that certain gene polymorphisms are associated with low levels of serotonin and high levels of dopamine, which appear to facilitate the development of positive and negative urgency. The authors discuss the implications of this theory for understanding the link between emotionality and risky behavior, emphasizing the importance of understanding the process linking emotionality and risky behaviors for clinical science. They argue that the urgency traits represent extreme levels of normal human processes and that understanding them may lead to a more complete, integrated account of the emergence of individual differences in important behaviors. The authors also highlight the importance of considering the role of urgency in comprehensive models of personality and provide evidence for the distinctiveness of the urgency traits from other traits. They conclude that the urgency traits are important predictors of negative consequences from risky and maladaptive actions and that they have different correlates from other traits. The authors also discuss the implications of the urgency traits for clinical disorders and appropriate interventions.The authors present evidence for two related traits, positive and negative urgency, which refer to individual differences in the disposition to engage in rash action when experiencing extreme positive and negative affect, respectively. These traits are distinct from other dispositions toward rash action and play distinct roles in predicting problem levels of involvement in behaviors such as alcohol consumption, binge eating, drug use, and risky sexual behavior. The authors identify facilitative conditions for the emergence of the urgency traits from neuroscience, noting that certain gene polymorphisms are associated with low levels of serotonin and high levels of dopamine, which appear to facilitate the development of positive and negative urgency. The authors discuss the implications of this theory for understanding the link between emotionality and risky behavior, emphasizing the importance of understanding the process linking emotionality and risky behaviors for clinical science. They argue that the urgency traits represent extreme levels of normal human processes and that understanding them may lead to a more complete, integrated account of the emergence of individual differences in important behaviors. The authors also highlight the importance of considering the role of urgency in comprehensive models of personality and provide evidence for the distinctiveness of the urgency traits from other traits. They conclude that the urgency traits are important predictors of negative consequences from risky and maladaptive actions and that they have different correlates from other traits. The authors also discuss the implications of the urgency traits for clinical disorders and appropriate interventions.