A colleague of mine had a meltdown during a meeting. He didn't like the new project plan and started shouting, slamming his fists on the table, and storming out of the room. It disrupted the whole meeting and made everyone feel uncomfortable. He later apologized, but the damage was done.
I once saw a man in a restaurant who didn't get the table he wanted. He started yelling at the hostess, stomping his feet like a child. His face turned bright red and he was waving his arms around. It was so embarrassing.
There was a story in the news about an adult who lost a bet. Instead of taking it gracefully, he threw a tantrum at the bar where they made the bet. He started breaking glasses and scaring other customers. The bar had to call the police to deal with him. It was a really extreme reaction just because he lost a bet.
Lack of emotional control also plays a part. Some people never learned how to manage their emotions well as they grew up. So when faced with disappointment or minor annoyances, like being in a traffic jam, they can't keep their cool and have a temper tantrum.
I knew a man who got really angry during a meeting at work because his idea wasn't immediately accepted. He banged his fist on the table, stood up abruptly and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. It was quite embarrassing for everyone there.
At a family gathering, an adult may throw a tantrum if they don't like the way the party is organized. Maybe they expected a different type of food or a different seating arrangement. Instead of calmly discussing it, they start pouting, making sarcastic remarks, and might even storm out, leaving the family members shocked and disappointed.
At a business meeting, one of the executives didn't get his way in a decision - making process. He started pouting like a toddler. He crossed his arms, sulked in his chair, and then began to raise his voice in an unprofessional way. He complained that no one was listening to him, when in fact everyone had considered his opinion but just didn't agree with it. His tantrum made the whole meeting very uncomfortable and unproductive.
Feeling disrespected can also cause an adult to have a temper tantrum. If someone perceives that others are not treating them with the respect they think they deserve, they may overreact. For example, if the man in the store felt that the clerk was not taking his request seriously enough, that could have triggered his outburst. Another aspect is poor communication skills. If people don't know how to express their dissatisfaction calmly, they are more likely to have a tantrum.
One of the best toddler tantrum stories I've heard was when my friend's little boy wanted a specific toy at the store. When she said no, he threw himself on the floor, kicking and screaming. He even tried to roll under the shelves. It was quite a scene, but in the end, she distracted him with a small treat and he calmed down.