People become frantic, competitive, or even aggressive when they think an inheritance—or any significant reward—is slipping away. Psychologically, this taps into a few predictable human behaviors:

1. Loss Aversion: People hate losing more than they enjoy winning. The idea of losing an inheritance can trigger strong emotional reactions, sometimes leading to arguments, manipulation, or overcompensation.
2. Competition and Status: When inheritance is at stake, family dynamics often bring out rivalries. Even individuals who normally behave rationally may act impulsively to “secure their share.”
3. Fear-Based Decisions: When someone perceives a threat to what they consider theirs, it can push them to take actions they normally wouldn’t—pressuring others, bending rules, or making rash moves.
4. Psychological Regression: In high-stress inheritance conflicts, adults may revert to more childlike behaviors—screaming, pleading, or lashing out—because the emotional stakes feel overwhelming.

These patterns are very common in family inheritance disputes. People literally “run and push” in figurative terms, sometimes even legally or financially, when they feel they might lose out.