yup I actually think my son does it for two reasons: some times impulsive but most often I truly think it is for the extreme reaction. He has always like extreme flavors, smells and reactions. We started anxiety meds to help with someof the aggression because we were so worried about him really hurting me (or someone else and himself) during his rages and that was at 5years old. We def. need to get it under control before puberty! This is my biggest worry with him right now is him seriously hurting someone and not really meaning to-which in a weird way I do think is true!

I am very interested in others answers. I have this problem right now with my lil guy and he is no where near puberty yet. I just do not understand what the point of "picking" at me is for.

Maybe he's trying to learn about reactions. My son kept pulling girls hair but almost looked alarmed when the screamed.

My son seems to "pick" fights which I figured is his way of requesting a deep pressure hugs like we use when he's in a tantrum and being aggressive. It's like his way of asking for it. Really odd.

This is how it works, and this is the hardest thing for people with average kids to understand. My daughter will have a good few days, and the whole time this is going on my wife and I are saying wait until this is over and we get the bad day next. Then we get that bad day and it is tantrums and hitting and picking and no way to stop it. We are trying to get things under control because she is getting strong and my wife cannot handle her on her own anymore. We are actually thinking residential because she is on 4 meds and all kinds of therapy, and this patttern still continues.