Here are some key characteristics of petulance:
* Sudden and brief: Petulant outbursts are often short-lived and come out of the blue.
* Impatient: It often involves a lack of patience and frustration with something not going as planned.
* Irritable: The person displaying petulance can be easily annoyed and quick to anger.
* Childish: It often involves sulking, whining, or tantrums.
* Self-centered: Petulant behavior is typically driven by a desire to get their own way.
Examples of petulance:
* A child throwing a tantrum because they didn't get the toy they wanted.
* An adult slamming a door and stomping off after a disagreement.
* A teenager rolling their eyes and sighing when asked to do chores.
While petulance is often associated with children, adults can also exhibit this behavior. It's important to remember that while petulance can be frustrating, it's usually a sign of underlying emotional distress or frustration.