involuntary act
Automatic bodily response
An involuntary act is something done without conscious choice or control.
In law, it refers to conduct that lacks the element of volition required for criminal liability—a reflex, a movement during unconsciousness, or action under physical compulsion: The seizure was an involuntary act, not reckless driving.
More broadly, any unintended bodily response: an involuntary shudder, an involuntary gasp.
- sneezeExplosive nasal reflex
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
- knee jerkInvoluntary leg response
- automatismInvoluntary mechanical behavior
- duressCoercion through threats
blink · eye twitch · instinct · shiver · cold sweat · gag reflex · coercion · pupil dilation · body language · goosebumps · racing heart · hiccup · startle response · coughing · muscle memory · compulsion · yawn · muscle spasm
- criminal defensesinsanity plea, insanity defense, legal insanity, diminished capacity, mental incapacity
- legal defensesself-defense, alibi, affirmative defense, insanity defense, insanity
- scholastic ethicsmoral choice, voluntarism, conscience, moral responsibility, natural law
involuntary, voluntary, voluntarily, involuntarily, volunteer, volition, volitional, action, active